Zverev represented Europe last week at the Laver Cup team tournament at home in Berlin, Germany. Tournament founder Roger Federer was there to encourage his players and answer questions from many German media outlets. Among them was the question of why Zverev has yet thttps://sportvibe.info/how-federer-guides-zverev-on-the-path-to-grand-slam-glory/o win a Grand Slam despite being consistently ranked among the top players on the ATP.

“To win a Grand Slam, you have to play more aggressively,” Federer advised Zverev on September 22. “Title doesn’t come by itself, you have to go for it. Zverev has to believe in his shots, be proactive and be determined with it. Zverev doesn’t lack much to win a Grand Slam.”

Zverev has reached two Grand Slam finals, but has lost both times. In 2020, he lost to Dominic Thiem in a tight five-set final at the US Open. This year, he lost to Carlos Alcaraz in a similar fashion in the final at Roland Garros. Zverev, 27, has won 450 matches and 22 ATP Tour titles, including two ATP Finals and six Masters 1000s.

At this year’s US Open, Zverev lost to Taylor Fritz in the quarterfinals – a match Federer was in attendance. The Swiss legend said: “Against such strong opponents, you have to be proactive. Zverev didn’t do that, he was too defensive in the decisive moments.”

Federer’s assessment is somewhat true to what Zverev shared after losing to Fritz. At that time, the German tennis player said: “I played a terrible match, with many shots that I wish I could do differently.”

When asked about Federer’s views, Zverev’s brother Mischa Zverev appreciated the 20-time Grand Slam winner’s honest advice – something few players dare to say publicly. “It’s not a criticism, Federer is completely open,” Mischa said. “My brother knows tennis very well and it’s true that there are matches where he doesn’t play as he wants. But Federer and we must not forget that Zverev is number two in the world, he could even be number one, so he knows tennis very well. We know what to do.”