Zverev delighted at Nadal's academy: "It's always very interesting to hear Rafa's opinion on my game"
The German repeated for the second consecutive summer at the former tennis player's academy and claims that “Toni spends a lot of time with us on the court and Rafa also came a couple of times.”
Alexander Zverev is now only thinking about the United States. After a clay court tour, crowned with the title of Roland Garros, and a grass tour, reaching the final at Wimbledon, the German needs to maintain the level he showed in the last two months to become a serious threat to Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. But before his arrival in North America, the Hamburg native stopped by Mallorca. First to rest and then to train again at the Rafa Nadal Academy.
He did this last year in a very different context. Recently eliminated in the first round at Wimbledon and admitting to experiencing mental health issues, Zverev sought help from Toni Nadal, who along with his nephew Rafa Nadal gave him their insights on his tennis. Months later, the German has acknowledged in several interviews that that mini 'stage' in Manacor was extremely beneficial for him.
Zverev reconnected with his tennis during his visit to the Nadal Academy in the summer of 2025
However, in 2026 he arrived in an enviable situation compared to last year. Champion in Paris, finalist in London, and the new world number two. Nonetheless, he wanted to once again hear the lessons from Toni and Rafa: “It's a great help. Toni spent a lot of time with us on the court and Rafa also came by a couple of times. It’s always very interesting to hear their opinion about my game,” he stated in remarks made to the media at the Rafa Nadal Academy.
Zverev emphasized what it means for him that Rafa Nadal, one of his greatest rivals on the court, advises him on what aspects he needs to improve: “ I have been playing against Rafa for ten years, and knowing his perspective on what I do well and what I can still improve is very valuable. I still want to improve every day, so having them close has been a great help.”
Zverev “ Uncle Toni was a lot with us on court ,
Rafa came twice ,
It’s nice to hear from him from a competitive standpoint ,
also what he thinks I can improve in my game …”
🎥 from @rnadalacademy ‘s Insta post @AlexZverev @RafaelNadal @Fans4AlexZverev #ToniNadal pic.twitter.com/LPLscpaMk2— Isabela 💙 (@isabela18041982) July 31, 2026
Additionally, he took the opportunity to praise the Mallorcan academy: “I love Mallorca. Especially in the summer, it’s a perfect place to prepare for this part of the season. It’s very hot here, with conditions very similar to those we will find in North America, and the facilities are incredible. It is undoubtedly one of the best academies in the world, and moreover, I can train with peace and privacy, something I value greatly.”
While Alexander Zverev sent a clear and strong message to conclude: “It has been a good year, but the season is not over yet. Now the North American tour begins, with two important Masters 1000 and a Grand Slam. I am here to prepare for that challenge, and I hope to show my best tennis there.”
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Zverev, encantado en la academia de Nadal: "Siempre es muy interesante escuchar la opinión de Rafa sobre mi juego"