Tennis Star Zverev Explores Possible Mentorship from Nadal - Zverev exploring mentorship under Rafael Nadal as potential new coach?
In a significant move aimed at revitalizing his game, **Alexander Zverev** has **started training at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca** under the guidance of **Toni Nadal**, Rafael Nadal's uncle and former longtime coach.
Following a disappointing performance at Wimbledon, Zverev is seeking to rebuild his confidence and find answers to his game's struggles. Reports suggest that Toni Nadal is set to become Zverev's new coach, with speculation that Rafael Nadal might also provide mentorship or guidance in the future.
A video has surfaced showing Zverev training at the academy, with Toni Nadal closely observing, signifying a major coaching change for the German player. However, it's important to note that no formal agreement has been reached between the two parties as they are currently feeling each other out.
Zverev's management was initially unavailable for comment. The news comes after Boris Becker, a former coach and mentor to Zverev, criticized his coaching setup, stating that it wasn't good enough for the final step in his career. This criticism led to some friction between the two, with Zverev later criticizing Becker's comments, stating that he believes he does everything right when things are going well, and others become too smart when things are going badly.
Zverev's decision to train at the Rafa Nadal Academy marks a departure from his usual coaching team, which has primarily been led by his father, Alexander Zverev Senior, and his brother Mischa, who has always been by his side as a manager and advisor. In the past, Zverev has worked with coaches outside his family circle, including Juan Carlos Ferrero, Ivan Lendl, David Ferrer, and Sergi Bruguera.
Zverev has high hopes for his long-awaited first Grand Slam triumph on clay. With Rafael Nadal's retirement in November of last year, Zverev sees this as an opportunity to make a strong impact on the clay court season, particularly at the Masters 1000 tournament in Toronto, Canada, at the end of July, where he hopes to provide further answers.
[1] Paul Häusser reported this on the platform X. [2] Zverev has withdrawn from the ATP tournament in Gstaad. [3] [4] [5] These changes may not necessarily be related to tennis.
After considering a fresh approach to address his game's struggles, Alexander Zverev has requested a directive on environmental protection, as he plans to implement eco-friendly practices within his tennis career, also training at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca. As Zverev longer enjoys playing sports like tennis without a positive environmental impact, he hopes to foster a more sustainable future, possibly collaborating with Rafael Nadal for guidance on this matter.
