Alexander Zverev, the world No. 3, revealed he spent hours in deep conversations with Rafael Nadal and his uncle, Toni Nadal, at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca following a shocking first-round exit at Wimbledon 2025 to Arthur Rinderknech (6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3). Speaking on the Nothing Major Podcast on August 2, 2025, Zverev described the experience, saying, “They spent a lot of hours talking to me, and they gave me some great insight… We spent hours and hours talking, sometimes until past midnight in some dinners and stuff like that. So it was great to be there.” The discussions, sparked by a lengthy voice message from Toni after Wimbledon, covered tennis, life, and Zverev’s mental struggles, which he candidly shared post-loss, admitting to feeling “very alone” and “lacking joy” since his Australian Open final defeat to Jannik Sinner in January 2025.
Nadal, who retired after the 2024 Davis Cup Finals, offered unique insights as a former rival, leading their head-to-head 7-4, including a dramatic 2022 French Open semifinal. “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,” Zverev told ATP Tour. Nadal advised him to be “more brave” in critical moments, a point echoed by @tennis365com on X, emphasizing its impact on Zverev’s mindset. Their late-night talks, sometimes with Nadal demonstrating forehand techniques over dinner, as noted by @AvantageTennis_, were both technical and motivational, addressing Zverev’s mental fragility, a recurring critique from observers like Toni Nadal in EL PAÍS.
The Mallorca stint, reported by Tennis.com and Olympics.com, followed a 90-minute phone call with Toni, leading to 10 days of intensive training. Zverev expressed gratitude for Nadal’s unexpected involvement, saying on the podcast, “Who am I to him? He’s Rafa Nadal, he didn’t have to do this,” per @saschashoulders. The sessions, tailored to push Zverev’s physical and mental limits, showed early results in his 500th ATP win in Toronto (6-7(5), 6-3, 6-2 over Matteo Arnaldi), where he displayed improved net play and composure.
As Zverev eyes the Cincinnati Open and US Open, these hours with Nadal, blending tactical advice and emotional support, could be pivotal in his quest for a maiden Grand Slam, especially after three final losses. The tennis community, reflected in posts like @madel_suravilla’s on X, is buzzing about Nadal’s intense coaching style shaping Zverev’s resurgence.
