Zverev hopes for further cooperation with Toni Nadal

“I try to convince him to spend more weeks with me and we’ll see how it works. But he is a very busy man”said Germany’s best tennis player at a press conference in Toronto about a possible further cooperation with Toni Nadal. The Hamburger will give its comeback after a break at the ATP tournament in Canada this week.

He was “Not sure”Whether and how often the uncle of Rafael Nadal will be at his side this year, because he is already in the word, reported the world number of world rankings. “But of course we talk about what a possible partnership could look like.” In a “A few weeks” the situation will be clearer.

“Toni is a great coach and a personality who can also give you confidence.”

Alexander Zverev

After completing his first round in Wimbledon in early July, Zverev reported mental problems. Before the trip to Toronto, the 28-year-old trained in the Rafael Nadal tennis academy in Mallorca for ten days. He got valuable advice from his former rival and his uncle, who had stood by his nephew during his great career as a coach.

He was ready for the United States, where the US Open is due at the end of August. The Hamburg tennis professional was not expressed for the possible cooperation with Toni Nadal.

Toni Nadal is a “Great coach”said Zverev, “But he is also a personality who can also give you self -confidence. When he speaks and when Rafa speaks, you will listen.” Both Nadals would have “Spent many hours to talk to me”he reported. After Wimbledon, a “very long voice message” by Toni Nadal had reached him: “Can we talk?” And they did.

During the talks, Rafael Nadal also had him “Great information” given, “How it is currently to play against me. He saw me as a player, now he sees me as a spectator. It was very helpful.” They would have “Tell hour after hour”said the Hamburger, “Sometimes until after midnight. It was great to have been there.” Convinced to travel around the world with him, he couldn’t.

“I really enjoyed it and am very grateful to him and Rafa for the warm welcome. It was really nice.”

Alexander Zverev

Zverev after cancellations by Sinner and Alcaraz Top Set

Zverev has been trained by his father since childhood. The collaboration with other trainers such as IVAN Lendl was usually only of short duration. In the past, Toni Nadal has also looked after the Canadian Felix Auger Aliaassime in addition to his nephew.

Zverev is number one in Toronto after cancellations by Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. After a freely for the first round, he is expected to get into the Masters tournament against the Australian Adam Walton on Tuesday. “I’m happy to be here,” said the Hamburger. “I look forward to playing again and I think the time -out in summer was extremely important to me.”

Big dream of a Grand Slam triumph

At the age of 28, he was concerned with “winning and getting the best of my skills and potential,” he said: “My team, but also Toni, are exceptional to get the best out of a player.”

If Toni Nadal helps him to achieve “the maximum”, “then I am sure that I will have a lot more success in my career”. The background is not least that the big dream of triumph has so far remained unfulfilled in a Grand Slam tournament.

After the Wimbledon-out, Alexander Zverev announced a tournament break until the end of July due to mental problems. Now he officially canceled his participation in Gstaad.

At the moment he feels “quite alone in life,” said the Hamburger. He thinks about therapy and announced a four-week tennis break.