Federer: “I am not his coach, so I can speak freely”

Will Alexander Zverev still be able to win a Grand Slam title? Tennis legend Roger Federer believes the German can do it – provided his game changes.

According to tennis legend Roger Federer, Germany’s best player Alexander Zverev continues to make the same mistakes. “I’m not his coach, so I can speak freely. When I see him play, I see someone who plays far too passively, far too defensively in the decisive moments,” said the Swiss in Berlin and added: “He is great in defense, but I think that in order to win, he has to look for the way forward. If he implements that, he can achieve great things.

Zverev has been waiting for his first Grand Slam title for years. The Tokyo Olympic champion failed in the finals of the US Open (2020) and French Open (2024). Most recently, the 27-year-old lost in the quarterfinals in New York to American Taylor Fritz. “Against the best players in the world, you have to take the initiative and play offensively. He didn’t do that against Fritz,” Federer analyzed on the sidelines of the Laver Cup in the German capital.

Federer: «Titles don’t just come to you»

According to many experts, Zverev’s passivity is repeatedly his downfall in the fight for his first Grand Slam title. “Zverev fails against Zverev. “He stands behind the baseline and hopes that his opponent makes a mistake,” said German tennis legend Boris Becker back in 2021.

Everyone is sure that Zverev has the potential to win a Grand Slam. “It’s not much that’s missing,” said Federer, calling the world number two an “outstanding player with one of the best backhands” on the tour. “But to win a Grand Slam, you have to trust your shots and play more offensively.” He has to believe in this path. Every cell in his body has to feel that this is the only right path. The title doesn’t just come to you. “Especially not the first,” said Federer, who left the court as a loser four times in seven duels with Zverev.

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