Tim Henman has a message for Alexander Zverev: to win a Grand Slam, he needs to stop being passive at crucial times. Zverev’s dream of clinching his third ATP Finals title was dashed after losing 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 to Taylor Fritz in the semifinals. Despite having opportunities in the final set, Zverev couldn’t capitalize and fell short during the tiebreak.
The loss marked a disappointing end to what could have been Zverev’s best indoor hardcourt season. He had previously claimed victory at the Paris Masters and performed exceptionally well throughout the tournament leading up to the ATP Finals. During round-robin play, he defeated Andrey Rublev and Casper Ruud before taking down an irate Carlos Alcaraz without dropping a single set or match.
Zverev showed his true potential against Alcaraz by playing with courage and precision when it mattered most . However, when faced with Fritz in the semifinals, he struggled against someone who had consistently beaten him this year at Wimbledon, the US Open, and the Laver Cup. Fans might wonder if there’s a mental hurdle for him against Fritz.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| de Alexander Zverev | 27 | 6,885 | 34 - 10 |
Henman’s Advice:
After another defeat by Fritz—his fourth straight loss—Zverev admitted he “blew it” during the tiebreak despite feeling like the superior player throughout much of that third set. Henman echoed this sentiment on Sky Sports tennis, pointing out that Zverev became too cautious during critical moments of play.
“There were a few moments where I don’t think Sasha took that forward step,” said Henman. “He got a bit passive on the forehand in the tiebreak… I think he can win a Slam but if he plays like that he won’t.”
Others have noticed this trend as well; former players and analysts urge Zverev to seize control during key points instead of holding back. Roger Federer even chimed in on this topic—he believes top players make their own luck rather than simply reacting defensively.
Looking ahead
During his time at Paris Masters, Zverev mentioned focusing on future goals like winning his first Grand Slam at next year’s Australian Open—a goal requiring more assertive gameplay from him moving forward.
What do you think? Can Zverev change his strategy to finally claim that elusive Grand Slam victory?
