Zverev reveals why he sought advice from Nadal after Wimbledon setback

Overview

• Alexander Zverev has finally opened up on why he went to visit former tennis star Rafael Nadal.
• After his first-round exit at Wimbledon 2025, the German took a short break from the sport.
• Then, he was seen visiting the Rafael Nadal Academy in Mallorca.

Alexander Zverev has finally opened up on why he went to visit former tennis star Rafael Nadal. After his first-round exit at Wimbledon 2025, the German took a short break from the sport. Then, he was seen visiting the Rafael Nadal Academy in Mallorca, where he spent time with Nadal and his uncle, Toni.

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Zverev has now revealed that the main purpose of the visit was to seek advice from Nadal-guidance he believes can help him overcome the likes of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner to finally capture Grand Slam titles.

At the US Open, Zverev explained: “It's about finding ways to beat the best players in the world, right? It's about finding the right patterns, the right training to do that. That's why I went to see Uncle Toni and Rafa, because I wanted to see and then hear a new vision of what tennis in their mind looks like and [what] my tennis in their mind looks like.”

"He knows what it's like to be on the court with me" - Zverev on Nadal

He further stressed that Nadal, more than anyone else, is in a position to offer him meaningful advice. “Rafa, for example, he played against me for ten years. So now, as a spectator and also as an opponent, he can probably give the best advice anybody else can, because he knows what it's like to be on the court with me," Zverev added.

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Earlier this year, Nadal himself had spoken about Zverev’s potential. In an interview, he said that the German has the game to win Grand Slams, but what separates him from Alcaraz or Sinner is the mental aspect. In last year’s French Open final, he was beaten by Alcaraz, and in this year’s Australian Open final, he fell short against Sinner.