Boris Becker refuses to jump on Alexander Zverev hype train

Back in October last year, Zverev became the youngest since Novak Djokovic to enter the ATP top 20. Although he has won only one title so far, the teenager has been predicted to be a future World no.1 once the current big four’s dominance is over. The German showed glimpses of his potential in the recently concluded Australian Open, where he took Rafael Nadal to the brink before losing to the Spaniard in five sets in the round of 32.

Becker, who had won the Wimbledon at the age of 17, believes that Zverev cannot rely only on his talent to stand out from the crowd.

The 49-year-old’s comments come just a couple of days after Zverev had expressed his interest in hiring Becker as his coach in the next couple of years. “Boris could definitely help me to improve my game, but if I want to work with him, first I have to win some tournaments because at the moment I cannot afford it. So if I wanted to do it, I would have to wait at least a couple of years,” Zverev had said.

Becker though has appreciated how well Zverev’s family has supported him and his brother so far. He said, “His father is a former Davis Cup player, Mom has been on the tennis courts for decades, his older brother Mischa is an important building block, he has a family environment that supports and protects him."