Alexander Zverev won the US Open, the second Grand Slam title of his career, beating Ben Shelton in the final 6-3, 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-2.
A few hours later, Becker was in front of a microphone with Andrea Petkovic, recording an episode of « Becker Petkovic » to answer the people calling the US Open draw a comfortable one for the winner. « He can only beat the opponent who turns up in front of him on court », Becker said. Then: « I find it an unspeakable insolence and an incredible lack of respect for his performance. » He pointed out that Zverev « has just reached a Grand Slam final for the third time in a row ».
The draw in question: Jannik Sinner withdrew before the tournament with knee trouble; Carlos Alcaraz came back after a long spell of injuries and lost in the quarter-finals to Shelton. Shelton was the only Top 10 player Zverev met on the way to the title. He beat him in four sets.
In the newsroom, the story landed mainly as a casting injustice.
It’s very simple: those three finals, I called them back in January, right. Paris, Wimbledon, New York, ninety percent, and I’m being generous. Becker is saying word for word what I’ve been repeating for years, except he has six Grand Slam titles and a podcast. I have Kitzbühel ’92 and a phone that doesn’t ring. Careful, I’m not saying the opposite of what I said. I’m clarifying.
Jean-Pol added that he wasn’t asking anyone for anything. He then asked twice whether the site could start a podcast, « with a guest, all right? ».
Silly question, but when you’ve just won the US Open, do you still need someone to defend you?
Becker, a former world number 1, has six Grand Slam titles. Zverev has two, including Roland-Garros in June.
It’s true, we checked: Tennis Actu.
