Mischa Zverev responds to Roger Federer’s words

Despite being ranked second in the ATP rankings, Alexander Zverev still doesn’t quite convince fans and insiders. Although Novak Djokovic has decreased this year, Roger Federer retiring in 2022 and Rafael Nadal Despite playing only one Major in 2024, the German champion has yet to win a Grand Slam title.

Sascha had several chances to finally win a Major this year. The 2020 US Open finalist lost to Daniel Medvedev in the semifinals of the Australian Open, despite dominating much of that match. Zverev reached the final of the French Open, where he lost a two-sets-to-one lead Carlos Alcaraz and gave up in the fifth set.

Everyone expected him to go far US Openthanks in part to the early eliminations of Djokovic and Alcaraz in the first week of the tournament. Just when the pressure was on, Alexander could not control his nerves and lost to Taylor Fritz in the quarter-finals, where he played perhaps the worst match of his entire season.

Zverev’s 2024

Sascha’s 2024 cannot be considered negative as he has the Masters 1000 in Rome and be the first to hunt Jannik Sinner. However, the German is more than 4,000 points behind the Italian ace and still lacks that spark that would allow him to change his status. Zverev will try to end this season brilliantly and attack the Grand Slam tournaments again in 2025. The German will be the Laver cup this weekend and makes his doubles debut today against Alcaraz.

Before the event, Swiss Maestro Roger Federer criticizes Zverev’s playing style: “I’m not his coach, so I can speak freely. When I see him play, I see someone who plays way too passivelyfar too defensive in the decisive moments. Against the best players in the world you have to take the initiative and play offensively. He didn’t do that against Fritz.

There is not much missing. But to win a Grand Slam you have to trust your strokes and play more offensively. He has to believe in this path. Every cell in your body has to feel that this is the only right way. The title doesn’t just come to youespecially not the first.” Alexander has had this problem many times during his career, becoming passive in the moments of greatest tension and failing to show his best tennis.

Former ATP ace and top analyst Mischa Zverev – Sascha’s brother – responded to Federer’s words in an interview with Eurosport: “It’s not a criticism. Roger was asked something, he answered openly and honestly. He understands the game, that’s clear. He knows tennis. Sascha understands the game too, he knows tennis too. The road to the top is a process. Sascha is currently number 2 in the world.

There are a lot of people – not Roger, but people in general – who are constantly saying or writing something. But you have to remember that he is number 2 in the world, and he can easily become number 1. He does what he does quite well. Of course, Roger, like many others, is right that there are situations where you can play or act differentlyBut when you look back, every player knows something about themselves or someone else that they could have done better – regardless of whether they win or lose.”

The German ace is too passive

The current world number 2 will have a very tight schedule in the last part of the season, in which he will try to give 100% for the Nitto ATP FinalsSascha already triumphed in Turin in 2021, when he was unstoppable and made the most of the fast road surface.

Meanwhile, the German champion is ready to play doubles with Alcaraz in Berlin: “It is a privilege to share the court with a legend of our sport. From here it will only grow. I have had the privilege of playing doubles with Roger here several times, which was very special. So now sharing the court with Carlos is also very special for me. We have had some tough Grand Slam battles this year in Australia and at Roland Garros, so to be on the same side is incredible.”

Zverev has very little chance of becoming world number 1 by the end of this year. His only chance is to win almost all tournaments in the last part of the seasonhoping that Sinner will have a very disappointing final in 2024. A complicated prospect, as the Italian ace usually shows his best tennis in tournaments on the indoor hardcourt.