In an interview on the sidelines of the “Ischgl Trophy,” Mischa Zverev criticizes Boris Becker’s statements about his brother.
On the sidelines of the “Ischgl Trophy” last weekend, Mischa Zverev addressed Boris Becker’s recent statements about his brother. The former pro clearly classified the public criticism of the former world-class player. In his view, such comments are “not particularly helpful,” he said.
Becker recently said of Alexander Zverev that “the world’s best looks different” and attested to the German number 1’s possible “mental block.” When asked about these statements, Mischa Zverev responded clearly.
“Boris can say what he wants. I don’t take it personally,” said the 36-year-old. However, whether such public assessments actually help the team or his brother is another question.
Mischa Zverev: Criticism of his brother comes at the wrong time
Zverev emphasized that this criticism comes at the wrong time, especially given his brother’s physical condition. Sweeping assessments from outsiders would create additional pressure and would not help, especially since his brother knows very well what he needs to work on.
When a player is playing with bone edema or close to a stress fracture, advice such as “play a little higher!” or judgments such as “He’s not playing well” are “simply not very helpful” from his point of view.
When asked how he would rate Sascha’s year in 2025, Mischa Zverev gave a nuanced answer. Alexander Zverev has struggled with numerous physical problems this season and is “actually permanently injured.”
Against this backdrop, however, the overall result for the year is still respectable. Zverev is currently ranked number three in the world and was the only player besides Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner to reach a Grand Slam final in 2025. He also won the BMW Open in Munich. When asked where his brother could improve the most, Mischa Zverev pointed primarily to the physical aspect. The key, he said, is to finally get fit and, above all, stay fit. Only when Alexander Zverev is healthy in the long term and can play at a high level without worries will his athletic development come naturally. Persistent injuries not only affect his game, but also his self-confidence.