Zverev talks about the possibility of "shaking hands" with Toni Nadal

(Dan Tri) - Alexander Zverev said he is trying to convince Toni Nadal to join his coaching team, after training at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca.

Zverev has spoken of his positive experience and hopes to work with the legendary Spanish coach in the long term. Pictures of Zverev training with Toni Nadal in Mallorca sparked speculation of a formal partnership. However, German newspaper Bild reported last week that Toni Nadal had turned down the offer due to his busy schedule.

At a press conference ahead of the Canadian Open in Toronto, Zverev confirmed that he was trying to convince Toni Nadal. "It was great in Mallorca. I spent about 10 days there, worked very hard and I really liked it. I think Toni probably likes it too," Zverev said.

Zverev has been a huge disappointment at Wimbledon (Photo: Getty).

Zverev admits that Toni Nadal is a very busy man with many commitments, including his role at his nephew's academy, ATP 250 tournament director in Mallorca and speaking. "I'm trying to convince him to stay with me for a few more weeks, and we'll see how it goes, but he's a very busy man. I'm not sure how many times you'll see him this year, because he's committed to a lot of events and a lot of speeches," Zverev added.

Still, Zverev remains optimistic about the possibility of a collaboration: "We're talking about what a potential partnership would look like, for sure. I can update you in a few weeks when we know more. I enjoyed my time there, for sure."

Zverev also revealed that Toni Nadal contacted him after his opening-round defeat at Wimbledon. "It's funny, actually after Wimbledon he contacted me. I'm very grateful to him for doing that. We spoke on the phone for about an hour and a half, texted back and forth a few times, and then we decided to go to Mallorca to meet him," Zverev explained.

The German tennis player appreciates Toni Nadal not only as a coach but also as a person with a strong personality.

Zverev stressed: "I think he is a great personality, also a great coach, for sure. He has a personality that I think can give you a lot of confidence, because when he speaks or Rafa Nadal speaks, you should listen.

They definitely spent a lot of hours talking to me, they gave me great insights. Rafa gave me more insight into how I play, because he saw me as a player, and now he sees me as a spectator."

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-thao/zverev-noi-ve-kha-nang-bat-tay-voi-toni-nadal-20250729194623846.htm