New bloom in German tennis: Alex Zverev's late summer

As a self-employed tennis entrepreneur, Alexander Zverev travels around the world for around ten months, across continents and time zones. He is the boss of the Zverev company, has a team of service staff and his father Alexander as a coach, but he is still a lonely soloist. Everything revolves around Zverev, the star, the French and US Open champion, whose DNA is “90 percent to be on my own”: “Sometimes you are very alone in this world,” says Zverev.

It's not surprising how comfortable Zverev feels in the Davis Cup biotope, where for a few days and weeks there is an unprecedented sense of community, a united fight for a goal. The 29-year-old from Hamburg, who led Germany to an acclaimed 3-1 win against Croatia in Halle, East Westphalia at the weekend and into the final round in Bologna at the end of November, is no different than the old masters Boris Becker and Michael Stich in the late 80s and early 90s. The rare opportunity to fight in solidarity as a team for something greater than just their own success made Becker and Stich even forget their individual goals.

“For me, Davis Cup victories were worth just as much as Grand Slam titles,” says Becker, who was in outstanding form and was the valuable point provider in German victories against Sweden in 1988 and 1989. Despite superstar status, he did not claim any special rights or privileges, but felt comfortable in the four-friend team with Eric Jelen, Carl-Uwe Steeb and Patrik Kühnen. In these triumphs, Becker was just as at the peak of his abilities as Stich was in 1993, who rounded off a brilliant year with victories at Rothenbaum in Hamburg and at the ATP World Championships with the Davis Cup success - in Düsseldorf with a 4-1 win against Australia. At his side back then: Marc-Kevin Goellner, Bernd Karbacher, Steeb and Kühnen.

33 years later, Alexander Zverev seems to be following in the footsteps of the two grandees Becker and Stich. A decade after his first moments of respect on the professional tour, he is now playing the best tennis of his life with maturity and clarity - and as number one among equals he could lead the black, red and gold selection for the fourth Davis Cup coup.

This could also help improve his damaged image in Germany. The case against him for domestic violence, which his ex-girlfriend reported in 2021, was discontinued in 2024 without a verdict in return for a payment from Zverev (200,000 euros). Legally he is considered innocent, but this did not help his popularity in this country.

“To finally win the damn thing” is Zverev’s stated goal. And a lot would have to happen to stop the two-time Grand Slam champion from taking part in the finals in Italy (November 24-29), even if he points out that “I still have a lot of tennis ahead of me this fall.”

Zverev knows full well that there is a very limited window of opportunity for his tennis dreams - both for taking over the number 1 position in the world rankings and for winning the Davis Cup. In the team competition the situation is clear: Zverev with his power in the here and now and also the world-class double Kevin Krawietz/Tim Pütz are good for the necessary victory points against any opponent. But since Tim Pütz is thinking of resigning, the duo may be active under the German flag for the last time this season.

Zverev should be able to lay the foundation for the leap to the tennis summit with solid performances in the next few weeks. He is fitter than ever and in 2026 he will cope with the demands of the tour more confidently than ever. He is already known as a frequent player who prefers to take to center court rather than train or take a break.

Against the will of his team, he pushed through the start in Halle, an “absolutely right decision,” as Zverev thinks: “After the days with our team, I got a real tailwind, that was great fun.” Zverev would love to play a real final, just like his predecessors Becker and Stich did. After all, he thinks the world association's new mode is "total crap": "Real home game atmosphere, that's what happened here in Halle." And not a somehow faceless final tournament abroad.

Curiously enough, Zverev came to mandatory events in the tranquil province of Halle twice this season - always when he had previously won a Grand Slam title. “As far as I’m concerned, this can continue,” said Zverev, “perhaps the victory will bring me luck with the team for the next tasks.”