“He just flat-out manhandled Zverev”: Patrick McEnroe slams German star’s ‘terrible’ tactics vs Novak Djokovic
ATP
Patrick McEnroe didn’t hold back after Novak Djokovic dispatched Alexander Zverev in their French Open quarter-final clash, criticising the German’s lack of adaptability and calling his tactical approach “terrible.”
Zverev had made a strong start, taking the first set and looking primed to use his youth and athleticism to overpower the 38-year-old Serbian legend. But instead of building on that momentum, he unravelled. Djokovic, known for his relentless will and court IQ, flipped the match with clever drop shots and composure exposing Zverev’s rigidity.
“What amazes me about Djokovic is his will,” McEnroe said in a post-match breakdown. “You can see at different times in this match he was struggling a bit physically… but he just flat-out manhandled Zverev.”
Djokovic’s use of the drop shot - 35 in total - proved pivotal. Zverev’s deep court positioning was no match for it, and his responses were ineffective. “Because Zverev’s positioning is terrible,” McEnroe explained. “When Djokovic pulls him in with the drop shot… when he does get it he doesn’t really do anything with it because he doesn’t have great hands.”
The critique went deeper. McEnroe didn’t just highlight flaws in Zverev’s performance on the day, he questioned the very structure of his game: “It’s very unimaginative play from Zverev. In fact, he may be the best player that has literally no imagination with what he’s trying to do. He hasn’t improved enough, he hasn’t attempted to do things differently.”
Despite Zverev’s baseline consistency and top-tier fitness, McEnroe’s message was clear, predictability is his downfall. “And Djokovic to me, even though this was a physical match, it was pretty routine the way he ended up winning. I didn’t think it would be, I thought it would go the business but Novak took care of business pretty efficiently for him in best of five in a quarter.".
The loss marks another Grand Slam disappointment for Zverev, who continues to chase that elusive first major title. He’s reached the latter stages of numerous Slams but has consistently fallen short at the final hurdles. While some may have attributed this to nerves or inconsistency, McEnroe’s comments shine a light on a more pressing issue: stagnation.
Zverev remains one of the sport’s top competitors, but his inability to adapt, especially against the likes of Djokovic, Sinner, and Alcaraz, continues to cost him. The solution may not be an overhaul, but some tactical variety is long overdue.
Sean Killen is a contributing journalist for both DartsNews.com and Tennisuptodate.com, where he balances his university studies with writing news updates, player features, and match reports across both sports.
Before joining the sites, Sean built experience across student and professional media. He serves as TV News Director for Cardiff University TV (CUTV), has reported for Gair Rhydd and The Cardiff Times, and produced viral news coverage that gained international attention. His reporting spans sports, breaking news, and human-interest features, and he’s worked across platforms including print, online, radio, and video.
Sean has followed the ATP and WTA tennis tours closely for years, with a growing interest in darts through the Premier League and World Championship circuits. He brings a sharp eye for storytelling, a commitment to accuracy, and a passion for making niche sports accessible to wider audiences.
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