"That was the best Zverev I have ever seen" enthuses Boris Becker during incredible Australian Open win over Alcaraz
WTAThursday, 25 January 2024 at 17:00
The best version of Alexander Zverev enters the semi-finals of the 2024 Australian Open is the opinion of tennis legend Boris Becker as well as the player himself who has worked hard to improve himself after injury problems aimed to derail his career.
Becker was on commentary with Nick Kyrgios during the semi-final win over Carlos Alcaraz where he made the Spaniard look ordinary 6-1, 6-3, 6-7, 6-4 and had simple praise for his compatriot as he set up a clash with Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals. The other tie sees Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner face off.
“That was the best Zverev I have ever seen,” said Becker as a TV expert on Eurosport.
“Back then I was at the top of my tennis,” said Zverev in Melbourne after victory. “Last year I wasn’t really a contender for the title at the Grand Slams."
“I worked extremely hard in preparation," he continued. “Last year’s preparation was about getting my foot back. This time I worked a lot physically in preparation, I worked on myself. From a physical perspective, there is hardly a player who works harder than me.”
But it is not only on court where work has gone in as Zverev admits. “I think that I have become calmer and more mature in the last one and a half to two years. That’s also a further development as a person,”
That maturity also extends to not getting too carried away in his own predictions. “I’m only in the semifinals and haven’t won the tournament yet," said Zverev as he aims to overcome a hurdle he hasn't done since the 2020 US Open.
“I worked extremely hard in preparation," he continued. “Last year’s preparation was about getting my foot back. This time I worked a lot physically in preparation, I worked on myself. From a physical perspective, there is hardly a player who works harder than me.”
But it is not only on court where work has gone in as Zverev admits. “I think that I have become calmer and more mature in the last one and a half to two years. That’s also a further development as a person,”
That maturity also extends to not getting too carried away in his own predictions. “I’m only in the semifinals and haven’t won the tournament yet," said Zverev as he aims to overcome a hurdle he hasn't done since the 2020 US Open.
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
claps 0visitors 0
Just In
Popular News
Latest Comments
- This article is SPOT ON!!!Rapunzel04-09-2026
- This article is SPOT ON!!!Rapunzel04-09-2026
- Is there no one in Pro Tennis willing to give this one some form of intervention before she crashes??
mandoist04-09-2026 - Double Standards for the male players? Gross. BTW: This "apology" reads like the one his lawyers wrote for him when he had to go to the Kangaroo Court for slapping his girlfriend around.mandoist04-09-2026
- From Day One, legalizing Sports Betting was never going to end well (for The Sport... not just the thousands who lose their livelihoods and bank accounts). We're not even close to the end of the damage this is causing.mandoist03-09-2026
- From Day One, legalizing Sports Betting was never going to end well (for The Sport... not the thousands who lose their livelihoods and bank accounts). We're not even close to the end of the damage this is causing.mandoist03-09-2026
- In her defense... she has no "defense" and likely could not articulate it if she did.mandoist03-09-2026
- Someone is not enjoying her gradual slide down the rankings, which became noticeable last season. BTW: That reporter's on to something familiar -- the effects of Social Media Stardom on one's Second Priority (Tennis). Shades of Bouchard, Giorgi, Raducanu, etc.mandoist03-09-2026
- Sabalenka seems so unhappy. When you get angry after every mistake you make on court, you’ve got some issues sweetie! She also does seem to be “partying” a lot if you follow her social media (I don’t lolol). Very immature personality.DaveyWavey03-09-2026
- The main difference for bigger names like Alcaraz, Sinner, Zverez, etc. is that they usually make it to the later stages of tournaments while 99% of the other players win a round or two and then move on to the next tournament. The bigger names are playing more, playing longer and therefore more injury issues. The money is great but it all comes with a price!DaveyWavey03-09-2026
Loading
