Toni Nadal has openly addressed what he believes is preventing Alexander Zverev from securing a Grand Slam title, pointing to a mental hurdle as the core issue. Having recently worked with Zverev during a training stint at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Nadal, the former coach of his nephew Rafael Nadal, has emphasized that Zverev’s mentality needs adjustment. He specifically highlighted Zverev’s tendency to lose focus in critical moments, citing the 2024 French Open final against Carlos Alcaraz as an example. Nadal noted that after leading two sets to one, Zverev made a “trivial error” early in the fourth set, turned to complain to his team, and within 15 minutes, Alcaraz was up 4-0, ultimately winning 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2. Nadal argues this reflects a lack of composure under pressure, a trait he contrasts with champions like Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic, who historically turned bad days into victories.
Nadal has stressed that Zverev’s mental weakness surfaces when facing adversity, such as in the 2025 Australian Open final against Jannik Sinner, where he failed to capitalize at 40-0. He acknowledges Zverev’s talent—evidenced by his world No. 3 ranking, Olympic gold, and six Masters 1000 titles—but insists that overcoming these psychological challenges is essential. Nadal’s assessment, shared in interviews and his El Pais column, suggests that without this mental shift, Zverev risks remaining among the best players never to win a Major, a sentiment echoed by Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, who also point to mental barriers and passivity as key factors. As Zverev prepares for the North American swing, this candid feedback from Nadal could shape his approach, though its impact remains to be seen.
