“I’m not interested in his opinion”: Alexander Zverev hits back at Boris Becker

Tuesday, 27 October 2026 at 06:30

Alexander Zverev has delivered a pointed response to Boris Becker, despite the German tennis legend recently congratulating him on his imminent rise to the top of the ATP rankings. The world No. 2 addressed the criticism he has received from a prominent figure in German tennis during his pre-tournament press conference in Vienna.

Zverev is set to become the next world No. 1 before the end of the 2026 season, taking over from Jannik Sinner after the Italian’s campaign was cut short by injury. The achievement will make him only the second German man to reach the top of the rankings since their introduction in 1973, following Becker.

His impending milestone has nevertheless generated debate, with some questioning how much the absences of Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have influenced the rankings race. Becker has publicly defended Zverev’s achievement, praising the consistency and hard work behind his rise, but the relationship between the two Germans has not been without friction.

Zverev’s latest comments suggest that Becker’s recent support has done little to change his view of the former world No. 1. Although he did not name Becker directly during his press conference, his remarks appeared to refer to the three-time Wimbledon champion and his previous criticism of the younger German.

Zverev responds to Becker’s criticism despite recent praise

The tension between the two Germans stems from Becker’s previous comments about Zverev’s game, including criticism of his serving routine. However, Becker has recently taken a more supportive stance, congratulating his compatriot on his impending rise to world No. 1 and defending the significance of the achievement.

Asked about the criticism he has received in recent years, Zverev made clear that the opinions of one particular person no longer carry much weight for him.

“Only one person has ever criticised me, and to be honest, I’m not very interested in his opinion over the last few years. Because every time he’s said something, the exact opposite has happened,” Zverev said in press conference before the Vienna Open.

Although Zverev did not explicitly identify Becker, the comments came after the former world No. 1 had publicly questioned aspects of his game. Following Zverev’s US Open title, Becker discussed his concerns on the Becker-Petkovic podcast, focusing on the German’s habit of repeatedly bouncing the ball before his second serve.

“I have one criticism of Sascha Zverev. That constant tapping of the ball on his second serve, come on!” Becker said.

Becker’s more recent assessment of Zverev has been overwhelmingly positive. After the German secured his place in an elite group of players to reach world No. 1. “Congratulations to Sascha Zverev. He has entered a very illustrious circle, let’s say, a very special club, the club of 30, the 30th No. 1 in the world since the early 70s,” Becker said. “Congratulations, because nothing is given to you for free.”

Becker also defended Zverev against suggestions that the circumstances surrounding his rise had diminished the achievement. He argued that reaching No. 1 requires sustained excellence rather than success at a single tournament.

“It’s a tough job, you can’t just play one tournament, you have to be the best player in the world for months on end. He has literally earned it through his own hard work. He really found his game through fighting for it,” Becker added.

Alexander Zverev is the first German male to reach world No. 1 since Boris Becker in 1991 🙌🇩🇪 https://t.co/XG6gSPVC1V
— TNT Sports (@tntsports) October 13, 2026

The former champion also pointed to Zverev’s greater consistency during the opening months of the season, saying that his performances reflected a different player from the one seen the previous year. Becker described the German’s ascent as deserved, rejecting criticism of his impending ranking milestone as “total nonsense”.

Zverev explains how he targeted the biggest tournaments

Zverev’s season has included major triumphs at the French Open in June and the US Open in September, results that have helped secure his position at the top of the rankings. He has also spoken about the deliberate approach he took to managing his form throughout the campaign.

Rather than attempting to reach peak condition at every event, Zverev and his team identified the tournaments where they wanted him to be at his best. The strategy allowed him to prioritise the Grand Slams while continuing to collect wins elsewhere.

“I chose where I wanted to be in top form. There were tournaments where I wasn’t in top form and still won my matches. But I was definitely in top form at the Grand Slams this year; I did a good job with my team,” Zverev explained.

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Questions surrounding the competition he faced have remained part of the discussion. Zverev has lost all five of his matches against Sinner and has also been unable to defeat Alcaraz or Novak Djokovic in their meetings, providing critics with grounds to scrutinise his record against some of the leading names in the sport.

Nevertheless, Becker has insisted that Zverev can only beat the opponents who stand across the net from him. With the world No. 1 ranking now within reach, Zverev is preparing to reach a career milestone that Becker himself achieved during his playing days.

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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