Boris Becker has given Alexander Zverev some firm advice after the German was spotted training at Rafael Nadal’s Mallorcan academy under the watchful eye of Nadal’s uncle and former coach, Toni. There have been reports that Nadal himself could land a new job with the world No. 3 as something of a mentor.
It comes after Zverev suffered a shock first-round exit at Wimbledon and then claimed he had been struggling with feelings of loneliness and a lack of motivation in recent months. And Becker wants the 28-year-old to make the most of his opportunity working with the Nadal family.
“This may be a completely new perspective for Sascha Zverev on how to live tennis, how to train tennis,” the retired six-time Major winner told Eurosport Germany.
“I mean, when Rafael and Toni are talking to you about tennis, you have to keep your mouth shut and just listen.”
Zverev was once touted as the man who would fill the void in the post-Big Three era. But, now aged 28, he has a 0-3 record in Grand Slam finals and has never reached the top of the rankings.
Instead, the former Olympic champion has been surpassed by younger rivals like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. But Becker still believes Zverev can get to the top of the game with the right guidance.
He added: “I’m still convinced he’ll win his Grand Slam. I’m also convinced he can still become number one if he sets the right course.”
After Zverev’s disappointing Wimbledon result and his revealing press conference, he pulled out of last week’s ATP 250 event in Gstaad citing personal reasons. But instead of taking a break, he jetted to Mallorca to train at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Manacor.
It comes after Nadal’s uncle Toni, who has been out on the practice court with Zverev, said the German’s comments “filled him with sadness” in his recent El Pais column.
“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,” the Mallorcan tennis coach wrote.
Toni’s words may have been enough to convince Zverev to head to the Balearic Island for a brief training block ahead of next week’s Masters 1000 in Canada.
The world No. 3 has been coached by his father, Alexander Zverev Sr, throughout his career. He’s also had input from retired tennis legends Juan Carlos Ferrero, Ivan Lendl and David Ferrer. And the Nadals could become the latest figures to impart their advice.
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