The Hamburg native would like to have Rafael Nadal’s uncle on his coaching team: “I’m trying to convince him to spend a few more weeks with me.”
Alexander Zverev has not given up hope of signing Toni Nadal as at least a part-time coach. “I’m trying to convince him to spend a few more weeks with me, and we’ll see how it goes, but he’s a very busy man,” Germany’s best tennis player said at a press conference ahead of the ATP tournament in Toronto.
He is “not sure” whether and how often Rafael Nadal’s uncle will be at his side this year because he already has other commitments, reported the world number three. “But we are of course talking about what a possible partnership could look like.”
The situation will be clearer in a “few weeks,” he added.
Zverev already benefiting from talks with Nadal
After his first-round exit at Wimbledon in early July, Zverev (28) spent ten days training at Rafael Nadal’s tennis academy in Mallorca before traveling to Toronto. According to his own statements, he received valuable advice from his former rival and his uncle, who had supported his nephew as a coach throughout his career.
Toni Nadal is a “great coach,” said Zverev, “but he is also a personality who can give you self-confidence. When he speaks and when Rafa speaks, you listen.“ Both Nadals ”spent many hours talking to me,“ he reported.
During the conversations, Rafael Nadal also gave him ”great tips“ on ”what it’s like to play against me right now. He saw me as a player, now he sees me as a spectator. It was very helpful.“ They talked ”for hours on end,“ said the Hamburg native, ”sometimes until after midnight. It was great to be there.”
Zverev has been trained by his father since childhood. His collaborations with other coaches, such as Ivan Lendl, were mostly short-lived. In addition to his nephew, Toni Nadal has also coached Canadian Felix Auger Aliassime in the past.
Zverev is seeded number one in Toronto after withdrawals from Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, among others. After receiving a bye in the first round, he is expected to enter the Masters tournament on Tuesday against Australian Adam Walton.