Shuffling of Team Zverev Personnel
Alexander Zverev, the German tennis star, is making a significant change to his coaching team by partnering with Toni Nadal, the uncle and former long-time coach of Rafael Nadal, at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca. This move comes after Zverev's disappointing early exit from Wimbledon in 2025, where he lost in the first round and expressed feelings of isolation and contemplation about seeking therapy.
Toni Nadal, renowned for developing Rafael Nadal's physical and psychological strength, is expected to bring a new approach focusing on discipline, humility, and tactics to Zverev's training. While the exact nature of Toni Nadal's role is yet to be confirmed—whether he will become Zverev's full-time coach or serve in a shorter-term advisory role—this marks a departure from Zverev's usual coaching dynamic, which has been heavily family-centered, involving his father and brother.
Rafael Nadal himself might take on a mentoring role in this new setup, providing guidance and support to Zverev, fostering his mental and tactical development on the court. This partnership could symbolize a fresh chapter for Zverev as he seeks to revive his career and Grand Slam aspirations.
Zverev is still training with his father, Alexander Zverev Senior, and his brother Mischa. However, he has canceled his start at the ATP tournament on clay in Gstaad, hinting at a shift in focus towards his new coaching setup.
Sky commentator Paul Häusser wrote about the potential changes in Zverev's entourage on the platform X, while Boris Becker mentioned these changes in the podcast "Becker Petkovic". It is unclear if these changes will be limited to tennis-related matters, but Zverev has previously worked with coaches outside his family circle, including Juan Carlos Ferrero, Ivan Lendl, David Ferrer, and Sergi Bruguera.
Zverev has the greatest hopes for his long-awaited first Grand Slam triumph on clay. He hopes to provide further answers about the changes in his entourage at the Masters 1000 tournament in Toronto, Canada. As of now, no final decisions have been made regarding Zverev's entourage changes.
Boris Becker, in a recent criticism, stated that Zverev's performance against top players has been lacklustre, with both players adopting similar rhythms and hoping for good results. However, with the addition of Toni Nadal and potential mentorship from Rafael Nadal, Zverev may be poised to make a comeback, bringing a new level of competition and excitement to the tennis world.
[1] Sky Sports, "Zverev's Wimbledon exit sparks calls for therapy", 2025. [2] ESPN, "Zverev looks to Nadal Academy for coaching change", 2025. [3] BBC Sport, "Zverev seeks Nadal family help after Wimbledon exit", 2025. [4] Tennis World USA, "Nadal family to guide Zverev's comeback", 2025.
Toni Nadal, renowned for developing Rafael Nadal's physical and psychological strength, is expected to bring a new approach focusing on discipline, humility, and tactics to Alexander Zverev's training. This partnership with Toni Nadal could symbolize a fresh chapter for Zverev as he seeks to revive his career and Grand Slam aspirations in sports, perhaps specifically in tennis.
