Clear words after the huge disappointment…
He was considered one of the big favorites for the title at the Australian Open. Then Alexander Zverev (24) was eliminated in the round of 16. The best German tennis player lost in Melbourne on Sunday against the Canadian world number 14. Denis Shapovalov 3:6, 6:7 (5:7), 3:6.
Photo: Tertius Pickard/dpa
” data-zoom-src=”https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/ein-entttaeuschter-alexander-zverev-verlaesst-die-arena-nach-seiner-niederlage-2a73f06c34354e8d969fcc498257d9cc-78922214/Bild/2.bild. jpeg”/> A disappointed Alexander Zverev leaves the arena after his defeatPhoto: Tertius Pickard/dpa
That’s clear: The last German winner in the four most important tennis tournaments of the year is still Boris Becker (54), who triumphed three times in Wimbledon (1985, 1986, 1989), once at the US Open (1989) and twice in Australia.
And Becker takes on Zverev after his Australia exit. At the broadcaster Eurosport he goes for the Olympic champion. Becker: “I haven’t seen Zverev so passively for a very long time. You can lose and play badly, but you can always try hard and keep your soul on the pitch. We missed that today.”
Becker tough: “It’s a tough gossip.”
Now Becker demands from Zverev: “He has to think about what happened there. He was oozing with confidence before but something has happened from Australia these weeks. The round of 16 is not enough for a top player like Zverev.”
Zverev also commented on his exit self-critically. The hamburger after the mega disappointment: “There are no excuses. There is nothing. I have to take it upon myself and try to do the best.”
The third in the world rankings had no excuse for his defeat and didn’t want to look for one at all. “I could sit here right now and say, ‘I have a cold and something else.’ But no, I’m always very honest. I do not have anything. I just had a shitty week, to be honest,” explained Zverev.
