"Very difficult for him to leave the court": Alexander Zverev’s father explains reason behind son's impressive performances

Alexander Zverev’s father has revealed the reason behind some consistent performances in the recent past. The 27-year-old is often regarded as one of the best players currently playing in men’s tennis in the singles category, along with the likes of Italy’s Jannik Sinner and Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz.

Even though Zverev has not been able to win a Grand Slam in his career, he has been one of the most consistent performers in the mega-event, especially since the start of last year. Out of the last five events, he has played in the semifinal or beyond on three occasions. The most recent of these deep runs came in Melbourne this year, where he had a rough day and came second best against the reigning world number one in straight sets with a score of 6-3, 7-6, 6-3.

It was the third time he ended up on the losing side in the final of a major competition. In 2020, he finished as the runner-up at the US Open after losing to Dominic Thiem in a five-set thriller with a score of 2–6, 4–6, 6–4, 6–3, 7–6. Four years later, in 2024, Zverev once again lost in the final of a Grand Slam, this time to Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, who lifted the French Open after winning an epic five-set encounter with a score of 6–3, 2–6, 5–7, 6–1, 6–2. Zverev’s father has been recently quoted in a report by The Tennis Gazette where he explained the reason behind his son’s consistent performances in the recent past. He also revealed that, at times, his son has to ask authorities to let him train longer.

“He always wanted to play very well [until] the last point, the last shot, and sometimes it lasted for 20-30 minutes. Sascha’s relationship with training when he was very young was that it was very difficult for him to leave the court, he just started crying that he also wants to play more, ‘I still want to train’. Even now, already one of the leading players in the world, he sometimes ends a night session at half past eleven or midnight and asks the tournament organisers to let him play after the match for another 30-40 minutes. If specifically about training with Mischa and Sascha, I’ve always been with them and it is very easy to train them. If they go out on the court, they do everything 100 per cent, to the best of their abilities. The key to success not only in sports but also in any other profession is good and honest work. If he goes out on the court, it doesn’t matter on the court or in the gym, he always does everything 100 per cent. I think this is the main key to success and thanks to this he is now standing where he is.”