Australian Open: Boris Becker expects Alexander Zverev to have good chances
Boris Becker sees good chances for Alexander Zverev at the upcoming Australian Open. And although a collaboration as a trainer is currently inconceivable for him, the German does not want to rule out anything.
by SID / tennisnet
last edit:
Feb 05, 2021, 11:23 am
Germany's tennis idol Boris Becker is expecting Alexander Zverev's first Grand Slam title soon. "He is slowly in the prime of tennis. He knows that the responsibility lies with him. The time of excuses is over," said the 53-year-old on Thursday in a media round on the TV channel Eurosport, for which he will start on Monday Australian Open is again working as an expert. In Melbourne, Zverev was "one of the favorites of the tournament," said Becker.
"I would be very mistaken if he didn't get very far," said the three-time Wimbledon winner. In the previous year, the 23-year-old Zverev took the next step in development with the semi-finals at the Australian Open and the narrowly lost final of the US Open. "If he maintains this pace, it will be a matter of time before he wins his first Grand Slam tournament," said Becker
Being a full-time coach is currently unimaginable for Becker
A commitment as a coach of the world number seven, which is speculated about again and again, is out of the question for Becker at the moment. "As of today, I cannot imagine whether I will coach him again as a full-time trainer," he said: "Due to the pandemic, there are currently more important issues for me as a trainer."
However, he does not want to completely rule out the dream marriage with Zverev. "At the moment I see him as the only German who can win a Grand Slam tournament," said Becker, who was the last German ever to celebrate a major title in Australia in 1996: "I would like to see a successor, help him and him support. Therefore: never say never. But as of today, the question does not arise. "
A major triumph is also the greatest goal for Zverev himself in the foreseeable future. The German has recently emphasized how much the narrow defeat in the final against Dominic Thiem at the US Open had hurt him, and has said that he thinks back to this match almost every day. For the German, the Grand Slams have the highest priority in tennis - and he "built his life on it" in order to be successful with them.