Alexander Zverev and Boris Becker’s relationship has soured this year.
Weighing in with his thoughts on the world number three, Becker claimed he gets a ‘bit of a headache’ when thinking about Zverev.
Firing back, Zverev said Becker was looking for ‘attention’ by talking about him.
Becker’s comments were made during a podcast he runs with former Grand Slam semifinalist Andrea Petkovic.
The 38-year-old has now given her verdict on the controversial dispute between two of the greatest players in German tennis history.
Andrea Petkovic says Boris Becker always talks about Alexander Zverev with empathy
In an interview with Eurosport Germany, Petkovic commented on the disagreement between Zverev and Becker.
“If you take that [quote from Becker] out, it sounds harsh,” she said.
“But when Boris [Becker] talks about Sascha [Zverev] on the podcast, it’s always very empathetic and solution-oriented.
“I see a few things differently from Boris.
“He wants to take a very radical approach with him. But that’s not my position.”
Petkovic then shared her assessment of Zverev’s 2025 campaign and advised him on what he should do in 2026.
“You simply have to see this season in the context that he wasn’t 100 percent fit,” she said.
“That makes it all the more important that Zverev draws the necessary conclusions.
“I hope that he might streamline his tournament schedule a bit in the coming years.
“When you’re no longer 18, 19, or 20, you have to plan a bit better.”
Zverev has played a hectic ATP Tour schedule this year, competing in tournaments around the world.
Alexander Zverev’s 2025 season
| Event number | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Performance |
| 1 | United Cup | United Cup | Hard | Lost in QF |
| 2 | Australian Open | Grand Slam | Hard | Lost in F |
| 3 | Argentina Open | ATP 250 | Clay | Lost in QF |
| 4 | Rio Open | ATP 500 | Clay | Lost in QF |
| 5 | Mexican Open | ATP 500 | Hard | Lost in 2R |
| 6 | Indian Wells | Masters 1000 | Hard | Lost in 2R |
| 7 | Miami Open | Masters 1000 | Hard | Lost in 4R |
| 8 | Monte-Carlo Masters | Masters 1000 | Clay | Lost in 2R |
| 9 | Munich Open | ATP 250 | Clay | Winner |
| 10 | Madrid Open | Masters 1000 | Clay | Lost in 4R |
| 11 | Italian Open | Masters 1000 | Clay | Lost in QF |
| 12 | Hamburg Open | ATP 500 | Clay | Lost in 2R |
| 13 | French Open | Grand Slam | Clay | Lost in QF |
| 14 | Stuttgart Open | ATP 250 | Grass | Lost in F |
| 15 | Halle Open | ATP 500 | Grass | Lost in SF |
| 16 | Wimbledon | Grand Slam | Grass | Lost in 1R |
| 17 | Canadian Open | Masters 1000 | Hard | Lost in SF |
| 18 | Cincinnati Open | Masters 1000 | Hard | Lost in SF |
| 19 | US Open | Grand Slam | Hard | Lost in 3R |
| 20 | Laver Cup | Laver Cup | Hard | Lost |
| 21 | China Open | ATP 500 | Hard | Lost in QF |
| 22 | Shanghai Masters | Masters 1000 | Hard | Lost in 3R |
| 23 | Vienna Open | ATP 500 | Hard | Lost in F |
| 24 | Paris Masters | Masters 1000 | Hard | Lost in SF |
| 25 | ATP Finals | ATP Finals | Hard | – |
| 26 | Davis Cup Finals | Davis Cup | Hard | – |
With two big events still to play, Zverev will be looking to finish his 2025 campaign on a high note.
Alexander Zverev’s 2025 ATP Finals draw
Seeded third in Turin, Zverev will compete in the ‘Bjorn Borg Group’, alongside world number one Jannik Sinner.
- Jannik Sinner
- Alexander Zverev
- Ben Shelton
- Felix Auger-Aliassime/Lorenzo Musetti
He’ll be searching for his third ATP Finals title in 2025, having won previously in 2018 and 2021.
Last 10 ATP Finals champions
| Year | Location | Champion | Runner-Up |
| 2024 | Turin, Italy | Jannik Sinner | Taylor Fritz |
| 2023 | Turin, Italy | Novak Djokovic | Jannik Sinner |
| 2022 | Turin, Italy | Novak Djokovic | Casper Ruud |
| 2021 | Turin, Italy | Alexander Zverev | Daniil Medvedev |
| 2020 | London, UK | Daniil Medvedev | Dominic Thiem |
| 2019 | London, UK | Stefanos Tsitsipas | Dominic Thiem |
| 2018 | London, UK | Alexander Zverev | Novak Djokovic |
| 2017 | London, UK | Grigor Dimitrov | David Goffin |
| 2016 | London, UK | Andy Murray | Novak Djokovic |
| 2015 | London, UK | Novak Djokovic | Roger Federer |
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic is the only other player in the field with multiple ATP Finals titles to his name.
Only time will tell if Zverev can pick up the title in Turin, but you certainly won’t want to miss any of the action.
The 2025 ATP Finals are scheduled to begin on Sunday, November 9.
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