Alexander Zverev, the world No. 3, has sparked excitement in the tennis world with a potential career-defining shift, training under Toni Nadal at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca following a disappointing first-round exit at Wimbledon 2025 to Arthur Rinderknech (7-6(7), 6-7(8), 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-4). This move, reported by *Sky Sports Germany* and other outlets, has fueled speculation about a formal coaching partnership with Toni, who guided his nephew Rafael Nadal to 16 of his 22 Grand Slam titles. Additionally, Rafael Nadal, now retired since November 2024, could take on a mentorship role, offering Zverev mental and strategic insights as he chases his first Major title. []
Zverev’s decision comes after a challenging 2025, marked by a French Open quarter-final loss to Novak Djokovic and an Australian Open final defeat to Jannik Sinner. Post-Wimbledon, Zverev admitted to mental struggles, telling reporters he felt “empty” and lacked joy off the court, prompting his withdrawal from the Swiss Open Gstaad to focus on this training stint. Boris Becker, a six-time Grand Slam champion, praised the move on his *Becker Petkovic* podcast, calling it a “top choice” and noting Toni’s expertise in winning Majors. “If Toni Nadal is Sascha Zverev’s new coach, he’s done everything right,” Becker said, highlighting the rigorous “Spanish school” approach and Rafael’s potential influence as a mentor. []
Toni, 64, who also coached Felix Auger-Aliassime from 2021–2024, brings a disciplined philosophy emphasizing punctuality and resilience, which Becker believes could address Zverev’s mental and tactical gaps. Rafael, with 14 French Open titles and unmatched clay-court prowess, could guide Zverev, particularly on clay, where the German sees his best shot at a Grand Slam. *ZDFheute* reports suggest this trial period could lead to a long-term partnership, with negotiations ongoing about structure and finances. [](https://www.sueddeutsche.de/sport/tennis-becker-begeistert-von-toni-nadal-als-moeglichem-zverev-coach-dpa.urn-newsml-dpa-com-20090101-250716-930-803010)[](https://www.eurosport.de/tennis/wimbledon/2025/brisantes-geruecht-um-alexander-zverev-toni-nadal-soll-trainer-werden_sto23201978/story.shtml)[](https://www.zdfheute.de/sport/tennis-alexander-zverev-trainer-toni-nadal-treffen-100.html)
Zverev, primarily coached by his father, Alexander Sr., and occasionally his brother Mischa, has cycled through high-profile coaches like Ivan Lendl and Juan Carlos Ferrero without lasting success. This collaboration with Toni, potentially bolstered by Rafael’s mentorship, represents a bold step for the 28-year-old, who has reached three Major finals (2020 US Open, 2024 French Open, 2025 Australian Open) but remains title-less. As he prepares for the Canadian Open on July 26, 2025, and the US Open, Zverev’s work with the Nadals could be the catalyst to finally break through and challenge the “Sincaraz” dominance.
