Boris Becker is considered the new Zverev coach. © APA/afp / PATRICK HAMILTON

Will Boris Becker be the new Zverev coach?

Olympic champion Alexander Zverev does not rule out working with tennis icon Boris Becker as a coach.

13. February 2024

From: dpa

“The chance is always there, always has been,” said the 26-year-old German press agency. The Hamburg resident appreciates the expert knowledge of the six-time Grand Slam tournament winner, but he qualified: “But if you think about bringing in someone like Boris, it's to win the big tournaments. And of course the coach has to be there at the big tournaments.”

A week ago, Becker announced the end of his coaching engagement for the Danish world number seven Holger Rune after less than half a year and justified this with scheduling problems: “Due to professional and private reasons, I cannot give Holger what he wants moment.”

Becker's problems

Becker was not at Rune's side in Melbourne at the Australian Open in January; instead, the 56-year-old reported from Germany as a TV expert for Eurosport. At the US Open last September, Becker was unable to report on site for the Internet broadcaster Sportdeutschland.TV due to visa problems. Before that, he also commented remotely for Sky Italia at his favorite tournament in Wimbledon. After his early release from prison in December 2022, which he had served in a London prison for making false statements in the insolvency proceedings, Becker was not allowed to enter England.

Alexander Zverev recently failed in the semi-finals of the Australian Open. © ANSA / JOEL CARRETT

Zverev has been trained again by his father Alexander since his separation from Spaniard Sergi Bruguera in May. In general, Zverev said he is not averse to hiring ex-superstars as coaches. “Just looking into their brain and seeing what they think about and how they acted in such situations can always help you,” said the world number six, who is still waiting for his first Grand Slam tournament victory. “You can always learn something new, so I won’t be stubborn and say: I know everything.”

Alcaraz: I would rather be the Olympic champion than the French Open winner

Another topic: For Carlos Alcaraz, the tennis tournament at the Olympic Games in Paris is very important. If he had to decide, he would rather win Olympic gold this year than the French Open, the 20-year-old said on Monday, according to the Clay portal, before his appearance at the ATP tournament in Buenos Aires. “It is a dream for me to win gold for my country Spain.”

Carlos Alcaraz dreams of Olympic gold. © APA/afp / JUAN MABROMATA

The Olympic medals will be played on the same clay courts as the French Open, which Alcaraz has not yet won. The two-time Grand Slam champion has not yet taken part in the Olympic Games. Alcaraz currently sees Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner and world number one Novak Djokovic as his biggest rivals. He puts himself and the German Alexander Zverev on the same level. In January, Alcaraz lost to Zverev in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open.

The current world number two has won two of the four Grand Slams so far – the US Open in 2022 and Wimbledon in 2023. In Buenos Aires, Alcaraz is once again the favorite as defending champion.