"That’s complete nonsense”: Coach defends Alexander Zverev, points to hidden battle top tennis star face

Germany’s Alexander Zverev is going through a difficult season. The 28-year-old started the season brilliantly as he finished as the runner-up at the Australian Open after losing to world number one Italy’s Jannik Sinner in the final in straight sets with a score of 6-3, 7-6, 6-3.

However, since that final, not much has gone right for Zverev. In the following two Grand Slams, Zverev did not manage to cement a spot in the semifinal. At the French Open, he lost to Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinal with a score of 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. At Wimbledon, things became even worse as Zverev was knocked out after losing in the first round to France’s Arthur Rinderknech in a five-set thriller with a score of 7-6, 6-7, 6-3, 6-7, 6-4.

It was the first time since 2019 that Zverev suffered a defeat in the first round of a Grand Slam. That result left Zverev to make a rare admission that he is struggling mentally and stated that he feels ‘alone out there’. Zverev went on to state that for the first time in his life, he is open to receiving some therapy as well.

"It's funny, I feel very alone out there at times. I struggle mentally. I've been saying that since after the Australian Open," he said back then. "I'm trying to find ways, trying to find ways to kind of get out of this hole. I keep kind of finding myself back in it in a way. I feel, generally speaking, quite alone in life at the moment, which is a feeling that is not very nice. Maybe for the first time in my life I'll probably need [therapy] it. I've been through a lot of difficulties. I've been through a lot of difficulties in the media. I've been through a lot of difficulties in life generally. I've never felt this empty before. Just lacking joy, just lacking joy in everything that I do. It's not necessarily about tennis. Just lacking joy outside of tennis, as well. "

Zverev’s most recent appearance was at the Canadian Open, where he lost in the semifinal to Russia’s Karen Khachanov with a score of 6-3, 4-6, 7-6. Now, German coach Thomas Baschab has weighed in on a debate surrounding whether Zverev really needs therapy going forward. Baschab recently spoke to Spanish media outlet Punto de Break, where he shared his perspective and stated that, in his view, Zverev does not need any therapy to return to his very best. Baschab dismissed the notion of Zverev being ‘mentally weak’, by highlighting that no player with such a fragile mentality would have been able to play in the final of a Grand Slam on three occasions. According to Baschab, Zverev is not struggling with any ‘depression’, but instead he is finding it hard to manage the ‘energy balance’, which can be described as loneliness as well.

“I’m not at all surprised by what’s happening to Zverev—what surprises me is how the public is handling this issue,” said Baschab. “I’ve often read that Alexander is mentally weak because he’s lost three Grand Slam finals, but that’s complete nonsense. If a player like him had mental weaknesses, he would never have become world No. 2. His problem is related to something entirely different. In Zverev’s position—that of a top-tier athlete—loneliness sets in quickly. I work with several high-level executives: CEOs of major companies are usually the loneliest people out there. The issue with these individuals is that they lack independent interlocutors, just like Alexander. Everyone he communicates with depends on him. His brother, father, mother, and girlfriend are all tied to him through a very tight-knit network of relationships. There are no eye-level conversations, hence the loneliness. I don’t think he needs therapy—it could cause much bigger problems. What he needs is an experienced coach to help stabilize his energy balance. I’d advise him to take a break, regroup, and recharge. I don’t think he’s at risk of depression.”