'This is why he still hasn’t won a slam': Former French tennis star drops brutal truth about Alexander Zverev’s slam struggles

Alexander Zverev arrived at Roland Garros as the world number three, but his Grand Slam hopes were cut short once again. This time, the exit came with added criticism, as former French tennis star Tatiana Golovin did not hold back in her reaction.

Facing off against 38-year-old Novak Djokovic, Zverev looked sharp in the opening set of their quarterfinal match. But as the Serbian legend settled into his rhythm, the momentum shifted. Djokovic clawed back and took control, ultimately defeating Zverev 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. It was a statement win that sent a clear message to the tennis world: he’s not done yet.

While Djokovic’s comeback wowed the crowds, it was Zverev’s lack of adaptation that sparked backlash. Fans and pundits alike questioned his mental toughness, with the former French Open mixed-doubles champion, especially, not holding back.

Speaking on Amazon Prime Video, Golovin dropped a brutal truth bomb:

“This match clearly showed us why Zverev has not won a Grand Slam title yet,” she said. “He played a great first set, but when there was Nole's reaction, he didn’t know what to do anymore.”

According to Golovin, Zverev became passive, hoping Djokovic would start missing rather than stepping up with his own aggression. The Frenchwoman also mentioned how "Sascha didn't do anything different even when he had his back to the wall.".

The loss is Zverev’s second major failure this year. Back in January, he reached the Australian Open final, only to be outclassed by Jannik Sinner in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6, 6-3. After that match, Zverev admitted the painful truth: "He was much, much better than me. Jannik fully deserved to win, and he was the much better player than me. But you still mentally have to keep believing. You still mentally have to believe that you can win Grand Slams and you can win at the biggest stage.".

Belief may be key, but results continue to tell another story. For a player long seen as a future Grand Slam champion, the window is starting to feel smaller, and the pressure louder than ever.

As Djokovic marches into yet another Grand Slam semifinal, he will now face the young Italian sensation Jannik Sinner, the very player who denied Zverev his first Major title earlier this year. It promises to be a thrilling showdown between experience and youth, as Djokovic seeks to extend his legacy and Sinner aims to cement his place among the elite.