Alexander Zverev returned to Rafa Nadal Academy for the second consecutive summer, continuing a partnership that helped him a year ago.
World no. 2 traveled to Mallorca following Wimbledon and worked closely with Toni Nadal ahead of the North American hard-court swing.
Rafa joined Alexander on court a couple of times, sharing his perspective on the German’s strengths and areas where further improvements can be made.
However, the Hamburg native arrived at the Academy with a significantly different status in comparison with 12 months ago, heaving become a Major champion and reached the Wimbledon final.
The world-class training block now serves as preparation for the Canadian Masters, where the German will lead the field as the top seed in the absence of Jannik Sinner.
Nadal offers a unique perspective on Zverev’s game
Toni Nadal spent significant time alongside the Roland Garros champion and his team on the practice court. The famous coach provided another experienced voice as world no. 2 prepares for the hard-court season.
Rafa’s involvement adds another fascinating dimension. Alexander competed against the 22-time Major champion for almost a decade, meaning the Spaniard can evaluate his game from the perspective of someone who repeatedly tried to expose its weaknesses under match conditions.
That knowledge is particularly valuable to Zverev. Despite reaching a new level over the past couple of months, he remains determined to identify details that could make him even more complete and competitive.Â
Zverev returns to Mallorca as a Major champion
The circumstances surrounding Alexander’s latest visit to Mallorca are considerably different from those of last summer. This time, he arrived with a Major crown alongside his name and fresh from another deep Major run at Wimbledon.
Those achievements have not reduced his appetite for improvement. Instead, the 29-year-old is again using the post-Wimbledon period to work away from competition and prepare carefully for the demanding months ahead.