Alexander Zverev Trains with Toni Nadal at Rafa Nadal Academy Following Wimbledon Exit
After a surprising first-round exit at Wimbledon, Alexander Zverev has been spotted intensively training at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca. The world No. 3 faced an unexpected defeat against Arthur Rinderknech at the All England Club and subsequently withdrew from the ATP 250 event in Gstaad.
Recent video footage shows Zverev honing his skills on the hard courts of the academy in Manacor, under the guidance of Toni Nadal, Rafael Nadal’s uncle and former long-time coach. This training session has sparked speculation about a potential new coaching partnership, with Sky Sports Germany suggesting that Toni Nadal might take on the role of Zverev’s head coach, while Rafael Nadal could serve as a mentor.
Paul Hauser, a commentator for Sky Sports Germany, reported: "Sky Exclusive: Alexander Zverev is currently training in Mallorca at the Rafa Nadal Academy with Toni Nadal. Uncle Toni could be the new head coach for Zverev, with Rafa Nadal acting as a mentor."
Toni Nadal has an impressive coaching pedigree, having guided his nephew Rafael to 16 of his 22 Grand Slam titles before stepping away from the team in 2017.
Zverev, at 28 years old, has reached three Grand Slam finals but has yet to secure a title, losing to Jannik Sinner in the 2020 US Open, 2024 French Open, and most recently, the 2025 Australian Open. While he has previously collaborated with notable coaches such as Juan Carlos Ferrero, Ivan Lendl, and David Ferrer, these relationships have not turned into long-term partnerships. Throughout his career, Zverev’s father, Alexander Sr., has primarily served as his coach, with his brother Mischa also contributing to his coaching team.
Following his Wimbledon disappointment, Zverev opened up about his mental struggles since losing in the Australian Open final earlier this year. "I feel very alone out there at times. I struggle mentally. I’ve been saying that since after the Australian Open," he shared. "I generally feel quite alone in life at the moment, which is a feeling that is not very nice." He further clarified that this sentiment extends beyond the tennis court, making it challenging for him to find joy outside of the sport.
This new training collaboration with Toni Nadal could be a pivotal moment for Zverev as he seeks a long-term solution to finally claim his first Grand Slam title. Toni Nadal has also previously worked with Felix Auger-Aliassime between 2021 and 2024 while continuing his role as the director of the Rafa Nadal Academy.
In recent discussions, Boris Becker questioned whether Zverev needed external coaching assistance, to which Zverev responded strongly before this apparent shift in his approach. Zverev is set to return to competitive action at the Canadian Open, where he celebrated victory in 2017.
Stay tuned for updates on Zverev’s journey as he navigates this new chapter in his career!
