German tennis icon Boris Becker has expressed his belief that Alexander Zverev made a mistake by sharing his mental health struggles after his unexpected early exit from Wimbledon. Zverev, aged 28, has been considered a potential Grand Slam winner but has faced various controversies.
Despite reaching the finals of major tournaments, Zverev, ranked as the world No. 3, has not met the high expectations set for him. His hopes of victory at Wimbledon were shattered this summer when he lost in the first round to Arthur Rinderknech.
After his defeat, Zverev openly discussed his challenges and received support from many fans. However, Becker, a three-time Wimbledon champion, feels that Zverev’s team failed to guide him properly and that he should have kept his personal struggles private.
Becker, aged 57, remarked, “Alexander Zverev is like a son to me in the sports world, and I empathize with him. If I were his coach, I would have advised him against sharing his mental state publicly after a first-round Grand Slam defeat.”
Becker remains optimistic that Zverev can regain his form, stating, “Perhaps this revelation was necessary. I am confident he will win a Grand Slam and potentially rise to the number one spot. Achieving the top ranking is tough, but maintaining it is even more challenging.”
Following his surprising Wimbledon exit, Zverev shocked the tennis community with his candid admission of feeling empty and lacking joy both on and off the court. He expressed his struggles with loneliness and mental challenges but acknowledged his opponent’s victory.
Apart from his on-court struggles, Zverev has also been involved in off-court controversies, including facing domestic abuse allegations from his former partner, which he denied and subsequently led to a dropped public trial.
Looking ahead, Zverev is scheduled to compete in the Canadian Open, where he will face off against Australian player Adam Walton in the round of 64 on Tuesday.