For years, the immense potential of Alexander Zverev has been a recurring theme in tennis discourse, often dissected by fellow German icon Boris Becker from the commentator’s booth. Back in 2017, as whispers of a Becker-Zverev partnership first surfaced, the young prodigy himself admitted a financial hurdle: “Boris could definitely help me to improve my game. But if I want to work with him, first I have to win some tournaments because at the moment I cannot afford it.” Since then, Zverev’s trophy count swelled to 23 and his ranking peaked at world number two. The dynamic shifted, making him a prime target for elite coaching. Now, with a less-than-stellar 2025 season casting shadows, the intriguing question hangs heavy in the air: Will Sascha finally turn to the legendary Becker?

After an explosive start to the year with eight straight wins, the world No. 3 hit a rough patch. His title hopes at Melbourne Park were dashed by Jannik Sinner, who beat him convincingly in the final. Zverev didn’t sugarcoat it—he openly admitted Sinner was better in every way and that he simply wasn’t good enough that day. Since then, the German star’s form has dipped dramatically, going just 14-7 across eight tournaments, with surprising losses to players like Francisco Cerundolo, Learner Tien, and Arthur Fils.

Recognizing the recent challenges, Alexander Zverev has made adjustments to his team. In the past few weeks, experienced British physiotherapist Will Herbert has rejoined his support system, alternating with Bastian Arnold from the German Tennis Federation. This change coincides with the departure of Christoph Seiler. Additionally, former professional Matthias Bachinger has stepped in as a hitting partner for the past two weeks, engaging in daily training sessions with Zverev in Monte Carlo and set to continue accompanying him in the near future.

Before the tournament began, an interesting dynamic unfolded for Zverev: Boris Becker joined his on-court sessions in Monte Carlo for three days. Becker, alongside Zverev’s father, Alexander senior, actively participated in looking after Zverev during these practices. However, as planned, Becker departed before the start of the tournament and Zverev’s narrow opening defeat against Matteo Berrettini.

Following an early exit in Monte Carlo, Zverev has rebounded impressively at the Bavarian International. He cruised through his matches against Alexandre Muller and Daniel Altmaier, securing a spot in the 99th quarterfinal of his career on the ATP tour. The atmosphere at the upgraded ATP 500 event in Munich is electric, with the new 6,000-seat Centre Court filled to capacity and hundreds more fans eager to catch a glimpse of the in-form Zverev.

Despite all the fan enthusiasm and the rumors swirling around him, Sascha kept a level head during his press conference before his ATP 500 debut in Munich. The press was especially curious about any new developments regarding a possible partnership with Boris Becker, since the two had been spotted training together in Monte Carlo.

Zverev, however, quickly shut down the speculation. “I already said it in Monte Carlo. If there’s anything new, I’ll let you know. But there’s nothing,” he cleared the air as reported by Eurosport on April 15th. For now, the world number three is putting all his focus on his matches.

Boris Becker, who coached Novak Djokovic from 2014 to 2016 and guided him to six Grand Slam singles titles, weighed in on Sacha’s slump during the Becker-Petkovic podcast. The tennis legend pointed straight to Zverev’s mental game, saying, “He is not as convinced of himself at the moment as he was in Melbourne or at the end of last year.” Becker believes that once Zverev regains his confidence, he’ll snap back to his usual dominant self. He stressed the importance of finding the right support to boost his mindset, calling it “the difference between victory and defeat with him at the moment.”

Interesting fact: According to ESPN’s report, Alexander Zverev’s loss at the Australian Open this year has made him the first male tennis player in history to experience his first three Grand Slam finals at three different tournaments, and to lose each one.

Some insiders thought the pressure piled on after Sinner’s suspension and Zverev’s clear shot at the world No. 1 spot might have overwhelmed him. However, it looks like coming into Munich, he’s focused on moving forward.

Alexander Zverev shared his hopes to get back into form soon

The two-time BMW Open champ in 2017 and 2018 came back to Munich, hoping to turn his recent slump around. “Of course I haven’t played particularly well. I lost to a lot of guys that I should have beaten,” he admitted candidly via Tennis.com. But the Aussie Open finalist from three months ago is still confident.

“I still believe I can play well on the big stage. I mean, I played in the Australian Open final three months ago. That said, I haven’t forgotten how to do it. But yes, the last few weeks have been a bit more difficult, but I’m still very confident that I will play well now and hopefully in the next few weeks.”

Zverev isn’t alone in struggling for consistency this year—his top rivals like Carlos Alcaraz have also stumbled since Melbourne despite winning the Rotterdam title. “Alcaraz is now in the final of Monte Carlo. That’s a step forward for him,” Zverev noted. However, since then, the Spaniard has won the Monte Carlo title as well, proving Sasha’s point.

“At the beginning of the year, you know who your competitors are. We’ve lost a lot since Australia, all of us. And yes, I think Carlos is out of his phase now, I think. I think I will get out of my phase soon too.” He’s feeling better with each match and believes winning a couple of tight ones will get him back on track before Paris, which remains his focus.

Looking back, Zverev admits that skipping a break after the Australian Open to play the Golden Swing in South America wasn’t the smartest move. “I made that decision six or seven months before, and it wasn’t the smartest decision to play in South America a week after the Australian Open on a different surface. That’s clear to me,” he reflected. Still, he enjoyed the experience and praised the organization, saying, “I can’t say the South American tour was bad or that I didn’t enjoy it.”

Now in the quarterfinals of the Bavarian International, Zverev faces Tallon Griekspoor with a chance to make a statement and shake off the pressure. Will he finally break free from his slump and remind everyone why he’s a Grand Slam contender? Share your thoughts below!