Alexander Zverev has dismissed the latest criticism from German tennis icon Boris Becker and insisted he is entering upcoming tournaments in a confident mood. Becker named Zverev a "problem child" in a podcast he runs with former player Andrea Petkovic, saying that "world class looks different" and reiterating that Zverev should make changes in his entourage.
Alexander Zverev has dismissed the latest criticism from German tennis icon Boris Becker and insisted he is entering upcoming tournaments in a confident mood.
Becker named Zverev a "problem child" in a podcast he runs with former player Andrea Petkovic, saying that "world class looks different" and reiterating that Zverev should make changes in his entourage.
Zverev would have none of it, telling Sunday paper Bild am Sonntag: "‘To be honest, I don't think he cares about me that much. I think he's just looking for attention, and he gets it from me. Unfortunately, that's the way it is. But I don't care anymore."
World number three Zverev has had a difficult year after reaching the Australian Open final in January where his quest for a maiden grand slam title at last was denied by Jannik Sinner.
Zverev suffered modest results, spoke of mental health problems after a first-round exit at Wimbledon, and has been plagued by back problems in recent weeks.
But he remained defiant and said he was able to train well earlier in the week in Saudi Arabia where he however lost his opening match at an exhibition tournament against American Taylor Fritz.
"Everything will be fine, and I am confident that I will regain my form and play good tennis again," he said.
"And now there are tournaments coming up that I really like indoors, Vienna and Paris, where I won last year. I believe that I can play good tennis there again."
Zverev has been calling for a longer off-season in tennis but won't rule out playing for Germany at next month's Davis Cup Finals in Italy.
"If I am fit I will really consider it," Zverev said.
Category: General Sports
