French Open: Boris Becker visits Zverev and offers last suggestions for the ultimate | EUROtoday

Status: 11:31 a.m. | Reading time: 3 minutes

BA turbulent few days for Boris Becker. The German tennis icon commented on the French Open from Munich for the TV channel Eurosport, together with the ultimate on Sunday (2.30 p.m.) between Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz, however flew to Paris once more earlier than the ultimate. Next week, a brand new job on the German Tennis Association could await him.

During his brief go to to the French capital, he as soon as once more inspired Zverev earlier than his last showdown in opposition to Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz. “The first thing I said was: Whatever you do, keep doing exactly what you're doing,” mentioned the six-time Grand Slam event winner on Eurosport: “The key thing is to be brave, to show your opponent and the whole world: I'm coming here to win – and not just to play.”

Becker sensed this angle on Saturday in Zverev (27), who desires to win his first Grand Slam title this Sunday in a duel with Alcaraz (21). “He seemed very calm, very focused. He still wants to play a match here,” mentioned Becker: “You could already celebrate, for him it is the greatest success in Roland Garros – but no luck! He was totally focused.” That can also be why he has “a good feeling” for the ultimate, added the 56-year-old.

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However, Becker won’t watch the ultimate reside on website at Court Philippe Chatrier, however will fly again to Germany on Sunday morning, the place he will likely be doing his job as a commentator for the TV channel Eurosport.

Becker in alternate with the DTB

Following the event, there will likely be a dialogue with Dietloff von Arnim, the president of the German Tennis Association. The matter will likely be a attainable involvement of the tennis icon within the DTB. “I have a telephone appointment with Boris next week,” mentioned von Arnim on Saturday in Paris: “I will be very happy to discuss our competitive sport concept with him.”

Becker had beforehand signaled his willingness to return to the affiliation on Eurosport, but in addition indicated that this was most likely “not wanted” by the affiliation's management. He can also be “still waiting” for a dialog with von Arnim that was deliberate final summer time. For him, it isn’t a query of cash, burdened the previous “Head of Men's Tennis” on the DTB: “I did it on a voluntary basis and would do it again today – but I would really like to have a conversation.”

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Children of German emigrants

Before that, Zverev is about to grow to be the primary German participant within the skilled period to win the title at a Grand Slam event on clay. Michael Stich misplaced within the 1996 last to Russian Yevgeny Kafelnikov. Like Zverev, Alcaraz is within the last at Stade Roland Garros for the primary time. The German has gained 5 of the 9 direct duels to date. Zverev narrowly misplaced to Austrian Dominic Thiem in his first Grand Slam last in 2020 on the US Open. Alcaraz has gained each of his earlier Grand Slam finals, in 2022 on the US Open and in 2023 at Wimbledon.