Alexander Zverev warned he will never win a Grand Slam unless he makes one big change

Former British No 1 Henman has suggested Alexander Zverev’s dreams of finally winning a Grand Slam title in 2025 will come up short unless he made a big change to his approach when the pressure reaches boiling point.

Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic were the kings of men’s tennis for the past couple of decades, as they won a stunning number of Grand Slam titles and re-wrote the tennis record books.

Now the next era in the men’s game is underway, with Sinner and Alcaraz sharing the four Grand Slam titles between them this year.

Yet Zverev has emerged as a real force in the game over the last few weeks and there was a feeling that he was ready to challenge Sinner in this year’s ATP Finals.

After seeing off the challenge of Alcaraz in the final round of group stage matches, Zverev looked well placed to march in the final.

Yet the winner of this month’s Paris Masters came up short in a thrilling semi-final against Taylor Fritz, inspiring Henman to suggest the German needs to change to mentality when matches get tight.

“There were a few moments where I don’t think Sasha took that forward step and play in his terms,” Henman told Sky Sports Tennis.

“He got a bit passive on the forehand in the tiebreak and I don’t think that’s something that he didn’t know already.

“I think he can win a Slam but if he plays like that he won’t. He needs to be prepared to take it on.”

Zverev has come close to lifting a major trophy in recent years and was a couple of points away from victory in the 2020 US Open final against Dominic Thiem before the Austrian found a way to win.

Now Henman has suggested Zverev’s consistency on his first and second serves could finally end his wait to claim one of the four big titles in tennis next year.

“He is just playing brilliantly. His serving is incredible – 80 per cent first serves,” said Henman.

“It used to be that if you got above 60, you’d think you’d had a good serving day. He is also more aggressive from the back of the court.

“Before, you used to say he was a bit one dimensional – banging down big serves and then just playing from the baseline. But now, when he gets the opportunity to cut off the angle and move forward, he takes it.

“You would have to say it looks like when and not if he will win a Grand Slam now. He is playing that good and as taken his game to the next level.”

“He was able to do that in the very key moments in this matchup. He just trusted himself.”

Zverev has Grand Slam wins against Alcaraz at the 2022 French Open and this year’s Australian Open on his record and from what we have seen of the German in the last few days in Turin, he is playing better now than at any point in his career.

The defeat against Fritz will sting heading into the off-season, but Zverev will end the year as world No 2 and he knows he can take the racket out of his oppponents hand when he is at his best.