Tennis: Boris Becker criticizes Zverev after French Open exit

Paris. Tennis legend Boris Becker has doubled down on his criticism of Alexander Zverev following his quarterfinal exit at the French Open, advising the world number three to make changes to his environment. "You get the impression that he's playing in the same rut against the top players and hoping for a good result," Becker said after Zverev's loss to Novak Djokovic in Paris. "That's enough against players outside the top ten, but against the top five, you have to develop further."

For this to succeed, Becker believes a coaching change at Germany's number one team would be necessary. "At some point, you need new sounds and a new environment," Becker said. "It's the same in football; as a football coach, you don't normally stay at one club for ten years."

Zverev is coached by his father, Alexander Senior, and his brother Mischa serves as his manager. "My father and brother did an excellent job, but it wasn't good enough for the final step."

In the past, Zverev had worked with Ivan Lendl, Juan Carlos Ferrero, David Ferrer, and Sergi Bruguera, among others. However, Zverev's father almost always remained part of the team. "And I don't think a new player will come in this constellation," Becker said, calling for a clean break.

"The question is: What does Sascha want? Is he content being number two in the world? Is he satisfied with what has been an outstanding tennis career so far? Or is he saying he wants to give it another go and turn everything upside down?" asked Becker, who describes himself as a friend of the Zverev family. Zverev is still waiting for his first Grand Slam title.

RND/dpa