'The title just doesn't come to you' - Roger Federer explains the reason for Zverev's inability to win Majors

Zverev has been eagerly awaiting his first Grand Slam title for years. Despite being the Tokyo Olympic champion, he faced disappointment in the finals at the US Open (2020) and French Open (2024). Most recently, the 27-year-old suffered a quarterfinal loss in New York to American Taylor Fritz.

One of the big 3 of Men's Tennis, Roger Federer, who was defeated four times by Zverev in their seven fixtures, shared his perspective on the 27-year-old former Olympic Champion.

Roger Federer's Take on Zverev 

The 20-time Grand Slam Champion asserts the fact that to win a Grand Slam, a player has to play offensively. The title never walks itself to the player.

Federer reveals that he believes Zverev's game style is far too passive in decisive moments. He added that one has to take initiative and take significant offensive risks to win against quality players, something which was lacking in Zverev's game.

Federer adds that Zverev is almost a complete Tennis Player, but if he has to win a Major, he needs to believe in his shots and play with more offensive intent. He has to believe in his offensive game style; only then can he win his first major.

Federer commended Zverev's defensive skills and also emphasized the importance of a balanced approach, noting that relying solely on defence may not be sufficient to secure major titles. He suggested that Zverev should consider being more proactive in his play.

"To win a Grand Slam, you have to play far more offensively… the title doesn’t just come to you, When I watch him play, I see someone who plays far too passively, far too defensively in the decisive moments.” - Federer said

“Against the best players in the world, you have to take the initiative and play offensively. He didn't do that against Fritz.”- Federer asserted 

“There's not much missing. But to win a Grand Slam you have to trust your shots and play more offensively. He has to believe in this path. Every cell in your body has to feel that this is the only right way. The title doesn't just come to you, especially not the first one.”- Federer added 

Zverev's response to Federer's comments 

Many experts have observed that Zverev's defensive mindset has been a limiting factor in his quest for a Grand Slam victory. German tennis legend Boris Becker pointed out in 2021 that Zverev tends to adopt a passive approach, staying behind the baseline and banking on his opponents' mistakes, which may hinder his success.

Zverev responded to Federer's comments by acknowledging that he is aware of the weaknesses in his game style. He mentioned that he was not satisfied with his performance and expressed his acceptance of Federer's remarks.