Toni Nadal has already told Alexander Zverev why he has not won a Grand Slam
Toni Nadal has candidly identified what he believes has held Alexander Zverev back from winning a Grand Slam title amid the pair’s collaboration.
Zverev has spent the last several days training at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, where Toni Nadal works as a coach and ambassador.
A number of videos of Zverev practising in the presence of Toni Nadal have emerged, sparking speculation that the German has added the esteemed coach to his team ahead of the North American hard-court swing.
Toni Nadal famously coached his nephew Rafael Nadal from the age of four until the end of the 2017 season, helping the Spanish legend win 16 of his 22 Grand Slam titles.
Zverev was upset in the opening round of Wimbledon by Arthur Rinderknech and admitted afterwards that he felt “empty” and “alone”, as well as that he was open to seeking help from a therapist.
The three-time major runner-up, who is coached by his father and brother, also suggested he would consider hiring a new coach.
“Possibly,” the 28-year-old said. “As I said, yeah, it’s a different feeling right now for me. I can’t speak for the moment. But I think I’ll have answers by Canada.
In an interview with Sport.de, Toni Nadal declared that Zverev’s mentality must change.
“Zverev, it’s a mental problem,” said the Mallorcan. “For example, last year when he played against [Carlos] Alcaraz in the Roland Garros final, he won the third set and start the fourth… in this moment he knows he plays against Alcaraz, Alcaraz is a wonderful player.
“This is a moment when you have to put a lot of attention in these first games. In this moment Zverev played, in the first game, he was in troubles with his team, he started to talk, and within 10 minutes it was 4-0 or 4-1 to Alcaraz.
“This is what can happen. I don’t say this to be bad to Zverev, because I appreciate him, but for me, has to change.
“When he changes, he has everything. I think he played better before, I remember some matches against Rafael and [Roger] Federer, he played very well.
“If he wants to win and have chances to win a Grand Slam, he needs to change a little his mentality. He can win, but to win is a thing about mentality.
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“In Roland Garros, why did he lose? Against Sinner [in the Australian Open final] at 40-0, he was not brave enough. It is not easy, but I think he can win. He is the third player in the world, he can win. But it’s about working hard and working hard at what you are not good enough at.”
After Wimbledon, Nadal shared his thoughts on Zverev in his El Pais column.
“I just read Alexander ‘Sascha’ Zverev’s statements after his surprising first round defeat at Wimbledon, and they filled me with sadness,” wrote the 64-year-old.
“The first time I saw Sascha play, he was about 16 years old. It was at the Basel tournament, when he was sparring with my nephew. After practice, I called a friend who represented several tennis players and advised him to try to recruit him as well. I told him I saw in Zverev a future world number one.
“The reality, however, is that after years of being tipped to succeed the Big Three and having been among the best for many years, he never quite made the definitive leap that would allow him to reach this coveted position.
“The reasons for this have more to do with mental and emotional limitations than with any technical flaws in his tennis.
“As I’ve said and written on several occasions, the difference between Alexander, on the one hand, and Djokovic, Federer, or Rafael, on the other, doesn’t show when everyone is playing well — it shows when they’re playing badly.
“The problem for Sascha is when things just aren’t working out. That’s when he usually loses. The other three, on the other hand, would often still find a way to win. They accepted adversity better and were able to turn a bad day into a victory.
“Zverev’s biggest handicap has been his unwillingness to compete and fight when the going gets tough. On several occasions, his mental weakness has taken its toll and prevented him from overcoming difficult situations.
“I have a great deal of affection for him, and I wouldn’t want him to read this as criticism, but the truth is that all these years he hasn’t managed to correct what he needs in order to become a Grand Slam champion. And that — the passage of time without winning one — is what leads to his current frustration.”
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