Roger Federer has spotted the mistake Alexander Zverev keeps making and has advice for him

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Ahead of the Laver Cup, Roger Federer has suggested what Alexander Zverev needs to improve if he’s ever to win a Grand Slam.

Alexander Zverev is gearing up for his fifth appearance at the Laver Cup and after a recent boost in the ATP rankings, the new world number two is the highest ranked player for Team Europe.

Having not been involved in the tournament since 2021, the German will be on home soil this time, with the seventh edition of the event taking place in Berlin.

Leading a much improved European team from last year, Zverev is joined by debutant Carlos Alcaraz, as well as three more top 10 players.

Last year saw Team World, largely made up of American players, take home the title with a resounding 13-2 win.

Roger Federer says Alexander Zverev needs to urgently improve one aspect of his game

Already with a favourable draw, Zverev’s route to the US Open final was made even easier when Novak Djokovic suffered a shock defeat to Alexei Popyrin.

The German however tripped up against Taylor Fritz for the second consecutive time at a Grand Slam this year, with the American winning their Wimbledon clash in July.

After the defeat, Tim Henman immediately suggested changes Zverev needs to make, while Justine Henin branded the German a ‘disappointment’.

Roger Federer has now had his say ahead of Friday’s Laver Cup, saying: “I see someone who’s playing much too passively, much too defensively when it matters the most.

“I think (Zverev) has to remind himself to try to not be too passive and then I think honestly something really great can happen for him.”

Zverev blamed his backhand after the Fritz defeat, however he has made a habit of repeatedly choking on the big occasion.

Alexander Zverev might just not have what it takes to win a major

It’s quite possible that we need to stop talking about Zverev in the way tennis pundits have been doing so since he rose into the top 10.

Whether it’s losing from two sets up in the 2020 US Open final or losing from a two sets to one up in this year’s French Open final, Zverev is unfortunately always the man you should bet against.

Fritz overcame his dismal major quarter-final record this year and took his chance for a shot at glory properly.

Zverev is consistently talked about in this upper strata of ATP players, someone who can beat anyone ‘on his day’, a player with ‘so much potential’.

The problem with potential of course is you can ever prove you never had it. It quite frankly should’ve happened for Zverev already, with this year’s US Open probably his best opportunity yet.