Must Be Nice: 'I have chosen Ivan Lendl over Boris Becker'

[Nicomassu]

Sounds like Zverev likes Becker more than Lendl. The chemistry seems to be off with Lendl, they don't seem to have a good connection based on what I saw at practice last week at the Open. Wouldn't be surprised if Zverev gets rid of Lendl soon and hires Becker.

 

[gogo]

Well, it's not like he's bragging that he's so talented both Ivan and Boris are interested in him or that he has so much money he can afford to think of one or the other as if money wasn't involved. Everyone knows, and Alex himself has said repeatedly, that if he thought of them to be part of his team it's because he and his family have known them for years. Becker has been around since Mischa was starting his career, and Ivan since Zverev Sr. was in juniors. They're almost part of the family. It's not Alex's fault he pretty much grew up on tour, with all those great players around, to talk about them as humans and not demigods.

Actually it IS like he's bragging.

And, it's tacky. I've hired many people over the years in business. I would never tell people who applied for the job, just who got the job. (None of my colleagues would either.)

 

[Deleted member 751575]

Actually it IS like he's bragging.

And, it's tacky. I've hired many people over the years in business. I would never tell people who applied for the job, just who got the job. (None of my colleagues would either.)

Zverev didn't make the news public to those involved while answering that question. Alex himself said that he spoke with both Lendl and Becker before making that decision and that they understood the reason behind it, so there was no lack of tact in his way of handling the subject.

I'm not trying to take a dig at you in any way, but there's a big difference between the public of your work and that of a professional tennis player. Unlike with most jobs, every decision a top tennis player (or any top athlete) makes is of public interest. All tennis media reported the possibility of either Lendl or Becker joining Zverev's team for weeks before that comment. Zverev didn't release the news in an exclusive report, he didn't make a statement or had a press conference to talk about the subject, it was just a question journalists asked him in a tournament's press conference because they were interested in knowing more about that topic.

So of course, he needed to address why he went with one coach instead of the other because that's what the reporters asked him. What else could he have done? Refuse to talk about it? Tell reporters that the question is tacky and to go with the next one? I'm 100% sure that if he had done something similar to that, everyone would've come out to cry how arrogant he is. And that's always the story with Zverev. He can never do anything right in the eyes of some.

 

[Mainad]

I suspect he may have been influenced in his decision by his trainer, Jez Green. Green worked with Lendl when they were both on Murray's team and they got along very well so it wouldn't surprise me if had had some input.

 

[Midaso240]

Holy sh*t,this is mindblowing. How on earth did such a mediocre player have these options? Crazy stuff...

 

[gogo]

Zverev didn't make the news public to those involved while answering that question. Alex himself said that he spoke with both Lendl and Becker before making that decision and that they understood the reason behind it, so there was no lack of tact in his way of handling the subject.

I'm not trying to take a dig at you in any way, but there's a big difference between the public of your work and that of a professional tennis player. Unlike with most jobs, every decision a top tennis player (or any top athlete) makes is of public interest. All tennis media reported the possibility of either Lendl or Becker joining Zverev's team for weeks before that comment. Zverev didn't release the news in an exclusive report, he didn't make a statement or had a press conference to talk about the subject, it was just a question journalists asked him in a tournament's press conference because they were interested in knowing more about that topic.

So of course, he needed to address why he went with one coach instead of the other because that's what the reporters asked him. What else could he have done? Refuse to talk about it? Tell reporters that the question is tacky and to go with the next one? I'm 100% sure that if he had done something similar to that, everyone would've come out to cry how arrogant he is. And that's always the story with Zverev. He can never do anything right in the eyes of some.

You raise some good points. I didn't know that the public knew that Becker was in the hunt for the job. (I didn't know, but then I'm not the most 'in-the-know'.) If it was common knowledge (who told the public?) then that means he was right to address it.

And, I know you would never take a "dig" at me or others here, because you have always been a respectful poster. I appreciate your posts.

 

[ak24alive]

A B Z


Always Backing Zverev.
@Sysyphus
His time will come.

 

[-snake-]

Ferrero was right all along.

 

[NuBas]

Richard Mille, Boris Becker, and Ivan Lendl aren't fools. They know a champion when they see one. He might not have the IT factor like a Roger or Rafa but he is currently the best of the upcoming generation. Zverev might have become more arrogant since winning some titles but I think Lendl may inject some humility in him and didn't Lendl want to work with a younger player to mold him? Zverev would be dumb to leave Lendl and Lendl won't easily drop him.

 

[Nadalgaenger]

Zverev, assuming he is healthy, is going to be a top 5 favorite at EVERY major for the next decade.

He may have a mental block. He may be enormously disappointing at slams (relative to his performance at Masters). BUT he is going to win majors. Several of them.

He’s a threat to win virtually any tournament he enters. His game works on any surface. He’s beaten Fed on grass and in a HC Masters final, taken Rafa to the brink on clay, and has beaten Djokovic in a Masters final.

He’s the real deal.
Deal with it!

 

[Nadalgaenger]

Richard Mille, Boris Becker, and Ivan Lendl aren't fools. They know a champion when they see one. He might not have the IT factor like a Roger or Rafa but he is currently the best of the upcoming generation. Zverev might have become more arrogant since winning some titles but I think Lendl may inject some humility in him and didn't Lendl want to work with a younger player to mold him? Zverev would be dumb to leave Lendl and Lendl won't easily drop him.

They couldn’t possibly know as much about future tennis champs as some of the TTW experts

 

[gogo]

Zverev, assuming he is healthy, is going to be a top 5 favorite at EVERY major for the next decade.

He may have a mental block. He may be enormously disappointing at slams (relative to his performance at Masters). BUT he is going to win majors. Several of them.

He’s a threat to win virtually any tournament he enters. His game works on any surface. He’s beaten Fed on grass and in a HC Masters final, taken Rafa to the brink on clay, and has beaten Djokovic in a Masters final.

He’s the real deal.
Deal with it!

Sasha, is that you???

 

[Deleted member 751575]

You raise some good points. I didn't know that the public knew that Becker was in the hunt for the job. (I didn't know, but then I'm not the most 'in-the-know'.) If it was common knowledge (who told the public?) then that means he was right to address it.

I don't remember exactly when the Becker rumors started, but they had been around for some time before Lendl joined the conversation, at least as early as February of this year (as soon as Z parted ways with Ferrero). It's not like Becker openly admitted he wanted to coach Z, but the rumours were still reported by tennis media, probably fueled by the presence of Becker in Zverev's box from time to time and both involved's reluctance to fully deny a possible association.

And, I know you would never take a "dig" at me or others here, because you have always been a respectful poster. I appreciate your posts.

Thanks! I like your posts as well

 

[zagor]

Might as well hire Becker too. Throw in Edberg and Connors as well because why not.

Maybe with such a dream-team of coaches uber-talented ZedGOAT will manage to get past 40 year old Kohlschreiber next time.

 

[NuBas]

Its a ripe time for Zverev to break through. Sooner or later he will. I will stick by his comment about competing for slams in 2019. We can criticize by then if he doesn't step it up.