Alexander Zverev's coach makes brutal Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner claim after US Open triumph

Alexander Zverev's coach and brother Mischa has hit back at those questioning the 2026 US Open champion's success by claiming Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner were “not strong enough” to avoid their injury problems.

Mischa, a former world No.25 whose career-best Slam performance arrived during a quarter-final run at the 2017 Australian Open, discussed Alcaraz and Sinner’s injury woes after his brother Zverev prevailed at the 2026 US Open.

The pair have accumulated 12 Grand Slam titles between them but both endured injury problems during a season in which Zverev claimed two Majors, leading Mischa to defend his brother's achievements and point towards his recovery from a serious injury.

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Alexander Zverev’s brother claims Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner could learn from the German

Zverev has enjoyed a career-best season results-wise at Slam events, having also lifted the 2026 Roland Garros trophy after Sinner’s early exit, and defending champion Alcaraz’s absence.

That was the German’s first-ever tennis Major; he followed up his performance in Paris by making it to next month’s Wimbledon final — where he fell to Sinner — before lifting the US Open trophy versus Ben Shelton.

However, Zverev’s Slam victories in 2026 have been described by fans as the result of Alcaraz and Sinner’s absences, not the German’s own level.

Mischa has shut down such claims, telling Sport1 that the seven and five-time Major winners are “not strong enough,” and praising Zverev’s injury comeback in 2023.

“Why weren’t [Alcaraz and Sinner] there?’ quizzed Mischa. “Because they were injured. Why do we get injured? Because, in some way, you’re not strong enough.

“Or because you’ve done too much. Because you didn’t rest when you needed to,” he continued. Alcaraz won 2026’s first Slam event, the Australian Open, by beating Zverev in the tournament’s semi-finals, despite being clearly hampered in Melbourne.

Mischa continued, praising his brother’s injury comeback in 2023 — after the German endured a brutal ankle injury versus Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros in 2022 — shortly after discussing Alcaraz and Sinner’s injury woes.

“Some people said he would never return to the level he had before. Instead, he came back and played like this,” said Mischa, who then implied that such a return is also possible for Alcaraz and Sinner.

“The possibility exists. We’re working towards it, and we’ll see what lies ahead,” concluded the German.

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Alexander Zverev’s coach laughs off ‘ball-bouncing’ focus after US Open victory

Mischa then turned his attention to additional criticism faced by Zverev during his US Open run, with the two-time Slam champion’s excessive ball-bouncing being targeted.

“It’s like when you win a Grand Slam, and someone complains about the colour of your socks,” laughed the German, whose brother was criticised by Andy Roddick for his controversial serving tactic.

“When someone wins and succeeds, there will always be someone saying: ‘Personally, I don’t like this or that,’” concluded Mischa.

Fellow ATP Tour professional Tallon Griekspoor was particularly outspoken in his criticism of Zverev, describing his ‘400-time ball-bouncing routine’ as “extreme.”

“I simply have a hard time watching Zverev. Especially in this tournament, where he bounced the ball 400 times before every serve,” revealed Griekspoor, before the Netherlands’ Davis Cup tie versus Colombia.

“It was really extreme, but it obviously helped him. Maybe I should do the same,” he continued, before confessing he anticipated Shelton’s loss at the US Open.

"I expected it against Shelton. The precedents were obviously already clearly in favour of Zverev. I found the match rather mediocre,” admitted Griekspoor.

“Shelton played very inconsistently and gave away two or three free points per game. You see what a first Slam final can do to a player."

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