Alexander Zverev has been one of the key figures in the weeks following Wimbledon and leading up to the start of the North American hard-court tour. The German, who left London after a first-round exit citing mental health issues, was seen training a few days later alongside Toni Nadal and talking with his nephew Rafa Nadal at the 24-time Grand Slam champion's academy in Mallorca.
Shortly after those images were released, German media confirmed that Toni Nadal would start collaborating with 'Sacha,' although the duration and travel plans with him on the circuit were not clarified. Speculation also arose regarding Rafa Nadal possibly assisting in a mentoring capacity. Zverev addressed all these uncertainties during his media day upon arriving at ATP Toronto.
Renewed Energy
"I took some time off. I mean, four weeks have passed since my last match, which doesn't happen often, only during the offseason. I'm excited to be here, I'm excited to be back playing, and I believe the summer break was very important for me."
About His Time in Mallorca and Training with Toni Nadal
"The stay in Mallorca was amazing. I spent about ten days there, worked very hard and also enjoyed it a lot. I think Toni enjoyed it too. I'm trying to convince him to spend more weeks with me, we'll see how it goes, but he's a very busy man. Also, he has many commitments he has already agreed to this year, so I'm not sure how much you will see him this year, as he has already committed to many events. But we are discussing how a possible collaboration could be, for sure, and yes, I might be able to provide more information in a few weeks when we know more. But yes, I enjoyed my time there, that's for sure".
It All Started with a Call from the Spaniard
"It's curious because after Wimbledon, he got in touch with me. I was very grateful that he did. We spoke on the phone for about an hour and a half, exchanged some messages, and then we decided to go to Mallorca to see him. But he is someone who, in my opinion, is a great coach, undoubtedly, but also someone who can give you a lot of confidence because when he speaks and when Rafa speaks, one listens. Yes, indeed, many hours were spent talking with me, and they gave me a great perspective".
Long Talks with Rafa
"Rafa gave me a great perspective on what it really is to play against me because he saw me as a player and now also as a spectator. It was very helpful, and again, we spent hours and hours talking, sometimes until well past midnight at some dinners and such. So it was great to be there".
About His Mixed Doubles Participation at the US Open with Belinda Bencic
"I think it's a fun event they are trying out. I'm not the only one; I think many of the top individual players are participating. It will be interesting to see how the event unfolds and what the fans' interest will be. But I'm sure that if Carlos Alcaraz, Aryna Sabalenka, Jannik Sinner, or Coco Gauff step onto the court, the fans' interest will always be there. So it's going to be fun to be part of it, and we'll see how it goes".
About His Future Goals
"For me, at this stage, it's about winning, trying to make the most of what I have, and trying to maximize what I can become. Once again, I believe that my team, along with Toni, are exceptional in that, in making the most of what a player has. Of course, he was previously with Rafa, whom I will never compare myself to, but if he can make the most of what I have and can maximize my potential, I'm sure I can have much more success in my career," concludes Zverev, who is looking to regain his tennis form, and who better than Toni Nadal to try to get him back to where he belongs.
This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Zverev, sobre Toni Nadal: "Estoy intentando convencerlo para que pase más semanas conmigo"

