'Works harder than any other player' - Becker defends Zverev after row

Tennis great Boris Becker says Germany's Alexander Zverev deserves to be world number one despite a public spat between the pair.

Zverev, who will end the year as men's number one for the first time after maiden Grand Slam titles in Paris and New York, recently criticized Becker for talking "nonsense" after his fellow German mused over why the 29-year-old is not so popular with fans.

But three-time Wimbledon champion Becker has tried to ease tensions, telling Germany's Main Post newspaper on Saturday: "Sascha Zverev probably works harder than any other tennis player. That is the reason for his success, and that cannot be said often enough."

Zverev's rise to number one has been aided by injuries to rivals Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, but Becker said that was not Zverev's fault.

"It is the best thing that could have happened to German tennis that Sascha Zverev became number one," Becker said.

"Success does not come by chance. It takes a lot of work, diligence and will."