Federer on Zverev: “Titles were long overdue”

The Swiss player praises Germany’s tennis star and is delighted with his recent successes.

Roger Federer is delighted for Alexander Zverev, the soon-to-be world number one, on his two Grand Slam triumphs: “Given his ability, those two titles were long overdue. That’s why I was incredibly happy for him,” said the Swiss tennis icon in an interview with Sports Illustrated.

The key to Zverev’s success this year, Federer explained, lay in the fact that “he dared to play bold tennis even in the big matches. “Many others, and I myself, have been advising him for years to be more aggressive from the baseline and to dictate the game more,” said the 20-time Grand Slam winner: “In the crucial moments, he often had the problem of becoming too passive.”

Four years after retiring, Federer still follows the tennis tour closely. As well as Zverev, he has also been impressed by Carlos Alcaraz in recent times. Watching the Spanish star is “a feast for the eyes”, said the 45-year-old: “Alcaraz has an incredible amount of talent – so much so that at times he still has to learn how to handle it himself.”