Günter Bresnik on Alexander Zverev: 'He has now tasted blood'

Alexander Zverev has finally captured his maiden Grand Slam title, triumphing at the French Open after a grueling four-hour, 16-minute final against Italy's Flavio Cobolli. The 29-year-old German secured the victory with a 6:1, 4:6, 6:4, 6:7 (5), 6:1 scoreline, marking a significant milestone in his career.

Veteran tennis coach Günter Bresnik, who has followed Zverev's career for over a decade, described the final as "poor," drawing parallels to Zverev's 2020 US Open final loss. Bresnik noted that while Zverev dominated the early stages, a familiar fear seemed to grip him mid-match. However, he emphasized that many Grand Slam champions have won without spectacular play, and Zverev's persistent effort has earned him this success.

Bresnik highlighted Zverev's remarkable resilience, pointing out that he has consistently been among the world's top players for nearly ten years, despite facing the formidable era of Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic. "He never gave up," Bresnik stated, admiring Zverev's enduring determination. The coach identified Zverev's powerful serve as a key weapon throughout the tournament, noting its strong ratio of winners to double faults. Zverev's forehand has also shown significant improvement, and his backhand remains a formidable asset. Despite his nearly two-meter height, Zverev's speed on the court was likened to that of a cat.

Regarding Zverev's mental state leading up to the win, Bresnik expressed skepticism about the player's public declarations of being unfazed by expectations. He suggested that the constant media pressure to win the French Open likely increased the mental burden. However, Bresnik approved of Zverev's outward composure during the tournament, acknowledging the immense pressure on athletes to perform and manage public perception.