French Open 2025: Boris Becker calls on Alexander Zverev to replace his father as coach after Novak Djokovic defeat
Published 05/06/2025 at 23:21 GMT+1
Six-time Grand Slam champion Boris Becker has called on Alexander Zverev to change his coach after the German was eliminated from the French Open in the quarter-finals by Novak Djokovic. Zverev, a three-time Grand Slam runner-up, has long been coached by his father Alexander Mikhailovich Zverev Sr, and Becker suggested that Zverev's current set-up was not "good enough" to win a Grand Slam.
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Boris Becker has suggested that Alexander Zverev replace his father, Alexander Mikhailovich Zverev Sr, as coach after the German’s elimination from the French Open.
Zverev was beaten 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-4 by three-time champion Novak Djokovic in the Roland-Garros quarter-finals on Wednesday.
The defeat came in the wake of a tricky clay season, in which three-time Grand Slam runner-up Zverev endured several early exits from Masters tournaments.
Barbara Rittner and German tennis icon Becker suggested that Zverev replace his father as coach, and claimed that Zverev Sr's input "wasn't good enough" for the 28-year-old to win a Grand Slam.
"I know I'm not making myself popular in the Zverev camp," said Rittner on Matchball Becker. "But perhaps he will get some impetus from outside. But the impetus from outside only comes when dad and [Zverev’s brother] Mischa hold back and let someone else take the lead."
Listing Zverev's former coaches, Becker said: "He had [Ivan] Lendl, [Juan Carlos] Ferrero, [David] Ferrer and [Sergi] Bruguera.
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"It doesn't get much better than that. But they were all always embedded with his father and his brother. And I don't think anyone new will come along in this constellation."
The six-time major winner added: "The question is: What does Sascha want? Is he satisfied with being No. 2 in the world? Is he satisfied with an outstanding tennis career to date? Or is he saying that he wants to try again and turn everything upside down?"
Becker cited both Rafael Nadal and Jannik Sinner as players who have enjoyed success after a coaching change.
"If you take a look at Nadal's career," Becker said. "Toni Nadal was there for a long time, then Carlos Moya or Francisco Roig came along at some point.
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"How is Sinner doing? There have now been three successful years with Darren Cahill. Now there's a new one coming.
"At some point you need new noises and a new environment. It's the same in football, as a football coach you don't normally stay with a club for 10 years."
Becker concluded: "He is the one who decides. He is the chairman of the board, the CEO. He decides what Team Zverev will look like in the future.
"His father and brother did an excellent job, but it wasn't good enough for the final step."
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