Alexander Zverev, the world No. 3 and top seed at the 2025 National Bank Open in Toronto, has sparked significant anticipation about a potential long-term coaching partnership with Toni Nadal, the legendary coach behind 16 of Rafael Nadal’s 22 Grand Slam titles. Speaking at a pre-tournament press conference in Toronto on July 27, 2025, Zverev shared details of his transformative 10-day training stint at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, describing it as “an amazing 10 days” that left him eager to convince Toni for further collaboration. “I’m trying to convince him to do more weeks with me, but he’s a very busy man. We’re talking about what a potential partnership could look like,” Zverev said, as reported by ATP Tour.
The partnership began unexpectedly after Zverev’s first-round Wimbledon loss to Arthur Rinderknech in July 2025, when Toni reached out with a lengthy voice message, leading to a 90-minute phone call about tennis and life. Zverev, who has been coached primarily by his father, Alexander Sr., visited Mallorca, where both Toni and Rafael Nadal provided extensive insights. “When Toni speaks, and when Rafa speaks, you listen. They spent hours talking to me, sometimes past midnight during dinners. Rafa gave me a great perspective on what it’s like to play against me,” Zverev told L’Équipe. He believes Toni’s ability to “maximize a player’s potential” could be pivotal, stating, “If Toni can maximize what I have, I’m sure I can have a lot more success in my career.”
Zverev’s optimism is tempered by challenges, as Toni’s commitments as director of the Rafa Nadal Academy, ATP 250 Mallorca tournament organizer, and lecturer limit his availability for a full-time role. According to SportBild, Toni has offered Zverev the chance to train at the academy whenever desired but is unlikely to travel globally as a permanent coach. Despite this, ZDFHeute reported a trial period underway, with hopes of a permanent collaboration if successful. Former world No. 1 Dinara Safina cautioned that Zverev’s willingness to adapt will be key, noting, “Toni is very straightforward. I don’t know how willing Alexander is to change and integrate someone new.”
Zverev’s 500th ATP win against Matteo Arnaldi (6-7(5), 6-3, 6-2) in Toronto, his first match since Mallorca, showcased early benefits, with 19 of 26 net points won and improved serving efficiency. Facing Francisco Cerundolo next, Zverev aims to leverage Toni’s guidance to pursue a second Toronto title and his elusive first Grand Slam at the US Open, where he reached the 2020 final. “I’m excited to put what I learned into practice,” he said, fueling anticipation for a partnership that could redefine his career.
