World number three Alexander Zverev hopes to win Toni Nadal at least as a part-time coach and hopes things will be clearer on the issue in a few weeks. Zverev is returning to tennis this week at the Toronto Masters from a first-round exit at Wimbledon after which he spoke about mental problems.
World number three Alexander Zverev hopes to win Toni Nadal at least as a part-time coach and hopes things will be clearer on the issue in a few weeks.
Zverev is returning to tennis this week at the Toronto Masters from a first-round exit at Wimbledon after which he spoke about mental problems.
He spent 10 days training at the Mallorca academy of former great Rafael Nadal, whose uncle and long-time coach is Toni Nadal.
Zverev said ahead of his start in Toronto he hopes that Toni Nadal can help him finally win a maiden grand slam title. The German has 24 career titles, including at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and twice at the ATP Finals, but has lost all of his three grand slam finals.
“The time in Mallorca was amazing. I'm trying to convince him to do more weeks with me, and we'll see how it goes, but he's a very busy man. Also he has a lot of dates that he already committed to this year, so I'm not sure how much of him you'll see this year.
“We're talking about what a potential partnership could look like, for sure, and I can give you an update probably in a few weeks’ time when we know more.
“I think at this stage for me it's about winning, and trying to maximize what I have, and trying to maximize what I can become," Zverev added.
"If he can maximize what I have, and he can maximize the potential that I have, I'm sure that I can have a lot more success in my career.”
Zverev said that he had long talks with Toni Nadal and the 14-time French Open winner Rafael Nadal.
“He has a personality that I think can give you a lot of confidence as well, because when he speaks and when Rafa speaks, you listen. They gave me some great insight," Zverev said.
“Rafa gave me some great insight of what it actually is like to play against me, because he saw me as a player, he saw me now as a spectator as well. It was very helpful, and again, we spent hours and hours talking, sometimes until past midnight."
Zverev is coached by his father, Alexander Zverev Sr, and his brother, Mischa Zverev, is his manager.
Zverev will start in Toronto against Australian Adam Walton and hopes that he can
"I'm excited to play again, and I think the time off in the summer was extremely important for me," Zverev said.
Category: General Sports
