Zverev's Mental Struggles Discussed by Becker: "I Was in Tears"
In a candid confession, Germany's top-ranked tennis player, Alexander Zverev, has revealed significant mental health struggles that have impacted both his personal life and tennis performance. Following his first-round exit at Wimbledon 2025, Zverev shared that he has "never felt this empty before" and is considering therapy for the first time in his life[1][2][3][4].
Zverev's emotional press conference at Wimbledon was met with empathy from his former mentor, Boris Becker, who reached out to offer support. Becker, a three-time Wimbledon winner, expressed sympathy for Zverev's public statements about mental struggles[5]. However, their recent exchange at the grass-court tournament in Stuttgart saw a sharp response from Zverev, who did not take kindly to Becker's advice to skip the clay-court tournament in Gstaad[6].
Becker, who is 57 years old, has been vocal about the importance of mental strength and resilience in tennis. However, no recent public statements from Becker addressing Zverev’s current mental health issues were found[7].
Meanwhile, Zverev's brother and manager, Mischa Zverev, has come under criticism from Becker for his role as a TV expert and lack of empathy[8]. Aryna Sabalenka, the current world No. 1, has publicly advised Zverev to seek help and open up about his mental health struggles, emphasizing the importance of communication with trusted people like his team[2].
In response to the challenges, Zverev has announced he will take a few weeks off from tennis to clear his mind[9]. Becker suggested a break with his partner Sophia and island hopping in the Aegean, to which Zverev responded with a "thumbs up"[10]. Mischa Zverev stated that training will resume after a few days off this week[11].
Zverev's mental health challenges have been ongoing since the Australian Open earlier in the year, highlighting the toll of public scrutiny and personal challenges[2]. The tennis star has expressed feeling "very alone in life" and struggling to find joy outside and inside of tennis, which has led to a lack of motivation daily.
Sources: [1] BBC Sport [2] Sky Sports [3] The Guardian [4] Tennis.com [5] Reuters [6] Deutsche Welle [7] ATP Tour [8] ESPN [9] Tennis World USA [10] SPORT1 [11] Tennis Headquarters
Alexander Zverev's discussion about mental health struggles with Boris Becker, a former mentor and three-time Wimbledon winner, extended beyond empathy and advice. Becker suggested a break on an island in the Aegean to help Zverev clear his mind, to which Zverev responded positively. Despite ongoing mental health challenges, science and health-and-wellness, specifically mental health, are crucial areas for Zverev to concentrate on, as advised by Aryna Sabalenka, the current world No. 1, and therapists may prove beneficial for his overall mental health and wellness in sports like tennis.
