Alexander Zverev urged to look beyond his father & brother for guidance by ex-ATP pro after 'sad' end to ATP Finals campaign 

Alexander Zverev was not in his best form when he played against Felix Auger-Aliassime in the winner-take-all clash at the 2025 ATP Finals. The Canadian star defeated World No. 3 Zverev 6-4, 7-6(4).

During the match, the German star was constantly in touch with his coaching team, which included his father Zverev Sr. and his brother Mischa Zverev. According to former British No. 1 player Tim Henman, Zverev needs to break loose from his cautious tennis in important matches. He also asked the German to get rid of his current coaching staff.

“He’s sitting back hoping his opponents will make mistakes and at this level, you won’t get away with that," Henman told Sky Sports Tennis. "He’s a very, very good player. He’s No 3 in the world, but I don’t feel like his game is trending in the right direction. “I don’t know what input his father and his brother is, but it needs fresh impetus. This is a sad way for Zverev to finish the year. He’s finished as No 3, he’s been in a Slam final, but this could be the catalyst for him to go away and say this is not how I want to play tennis and turn it around.”

Zverev Sr. is a longtime coach for Alexander Zverev. Meanwhile, brother Mischa Zverev serves as a hitting partner on the German star's team.

Boris Becker also previously suggested Alexander Zverev to replace his father with a new coach

This is not the first time Alexander Zverev is being asked to replace his father from his coaching team.

After Zverev was eliminated from the French Open in the quarter-finals by Novak Djokovic, six-time Grand Slam champion Boris Becker asked the German star to replace his longtime coach and father from his team.

"He had [Ivan] Lendl, [Juan Carlos] Ferrero, [David] Ferrer and [Sergi] Bruguera," Becker said. "It doesn't get much better than that. But they were all always embedded with his father and his brother. And I don't think anyone new will come along in this constellation." "The question is: What does Sascha want? Is he satisfied with being No. 2 in the world? Is he satisfied with an outstanding tennis career to date? Or is he saying that he wants to try again and turn everything upside down?" Becker added.

Becker then went on to refer to Rafael Nadal and Jannik Sinner's decisions despite their close association with their family members on their coaching team.

"At some point you need new noises and a new environment," Becker added. "It's the same in football, as a football coach you don't normally stay with a club for 10 years... His father and brother did an excellent job, but it wasn't good enough for the final step."

It remains to be seen if Zverev heeds the advice he has been receiving or continues to keep his father the main pillar of his coaching team.

Edited by Krutik Jain