Boris Becker Alexander Zverev world No. 1 comments, Digi Mart USA News: Despite some differences of opinion, Boris Becker considers German tennis player Alexander Zverev a deserving world No. 1. “Sascha Zverev probably works harder than any other tennis player.
That is the reason for his success, and it cannot be mentioned often enough,” the three-time Wimbledon champion said in an interview with the “Main-Post.”
Since Zverev took over the world ranking lead, the tennis community has debated whether the winner of the French Open and US Open deservedly stands at the top. Zverev had complained about this after his early exit at the Masters in Paris.
His biggest rivals, Jannik Sinner of Italy and Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, were unable to play for months due to injuries, and the Hamburg native has a negative record against top-ten players this year.
“If players like Sinner or Alcaraz cannot fully play for a year because of injuries, that is not his fault. So congratulations!
It is the best thing that could have happened to German tennis that Sascha Zverev became number one,” Becker said.
The relationship between Becker and Zverev is currently strained. Zverev recently responded sharply to comments from Becker about why the 2021 Olympic champion does not appear as popular in Germany despite current successes.
“I think he tells a lot of nonsense, as always,” Zverev had said, adding: “I think he is currently looking for anything to put me down a little. He can do that, it’s his choice.”
Asked why it took 35 years for a German to follow him as world No. 1, Becker said: “Perhaps young people’s willingness to perform is not as pronounced as it was 20 years ago. Success does not come by chance.
It requires a lot of work, diligence and determination. We were able to do better in all areas in Germany once before.”
Becker, a six-time Grand Slam singles champion, said talents must again develop “a greater willingness to submit to the sport of tennis.” He said he sees primarily not a structural problem within the German Tennis Federation, “but a mentality problem.”
