Alexander Zverev Not Happy with Ivan Lendl: “I Told Him to Focus More on Tennis”

Alexander Zverev criticised his coach, Ivan Lendl for lack of focus on their partnership. In a press-conference at Hamburg, Alexander Zverev revealed that he has asked Ivan Lendl to show more commitment. The German revealed that Lendl mostly talks about golf and dogs during their practice sessions.

Alexander Zverev has been preparing for the Hamburg European Open, lately after his shock first-round exit at the Wimbledon Championships 2019.

He told the reporters ahead of the European Open in Hamburg, “Sometimes we go on the practice court. The training is over two hours. And for half an hour he stands with his back to me and tells me about his round of golf.”

Alexander Zverev further added that Ivan Lendl is spending a lot of time with his new dog and his main current topics were “golf and his little dog.”

The German revealed that the two have had a conversation about his early exit from the Wimbledon Championships 2019. It was the first time he has lost in the opening round of a grand slam tournament since the 2017 French Open and the first time at the All England Lawn Tennis Club.

He said, “We talked about it, and I told him that he should focus more on tennis.”

Alexander Zverev has been working with the eight-time grand slam champion since past 11 months and has won two ATP titles partnering with him, including the biggest title of his career at the Nitto ATP Finals in November.

However, the 22-year-old has not been in the best of his form in recent weeks. He also has been involved in a lawsuit with his former agent Patricio Apey and the split with his girlfriend Olya Sharipova. All these off-court tensions led to his substandard performance in the 2019 season with the German failing to win a big title this year.