BERLIN (GERMANY) – German Alexander Zverev has called it quits with Roger Federer’s sports management company Team8, the world number seven said.
Zverev, who recently split with coach David Ferrer, reached his maiden Grand Slam final at the US Open. He had clinched two ATP titles in Cologne and made the final of the ATP Masters 1000 event in Paris in 2020.
Zverev wrote on Instagram, “I reached my first Grand Slam final without my parents and brother being court-side due to them contracting COVID-19.”
“For this reason and because of the ongoing worldwide restrictions, I have decided to go back to the roots and have my family help me with my coaching, as well as … with my management.
“I want to thank TEAM8 for the great work and tremendous experience, but we both feel that it’s the right decision to have my family take on a bigger role once again.”
Zverev also had setbacks in 2020 and a few allegations had come his way too. He was accused of domestic abuse by his former girlfriend Olga Sharypova, which he said were “unfounded, untrue”.
The German was also criticised after he was seen partying at Novak Djokovic’s Adria Tour event in the Balkans, where multiple players including the top-ranked Serbian had turned COVID positive.
Another video showed Zverev at a crowded club following the Adria Tour fiasco in spite of him taking a vow that he would be self-isolating.
At the French Open Zverev played, even as he had fever and breathing difficulties during his fourth-round defeat to Italian teenager Jannik Sinner, leading to raising concerns about COVID-19 protocols at the Grand Slam.
The Team8 agency is founded by 20-time Grand Slam winner Federer and his long-time agent Tony Godsick and owns the Laver Cup, a tennis tournament which brings forth an European team competing against players from the rest of the world.