Alexander Zverev surprised by Rafael Nadal’s unique coaching approach: ‘That’s not normal’

Right now, most of the talk around Zverev centres around his coaching situation, specifically his public pursuit of Toni Nadal as a permanent advisor.

So far, it hasn’t worked out, mainly due to how busy Nadal is these days.

Still, Zverev said he valued the time they did have together. Speaking on the Nothing Major podcast, he explained: “I was expecting that question. I am going to give you how it is. I loved the week. I enjoyed it a lot.

“I think Toni enjoyed it as well. I spent quite a lot of time with Rafa as well, which was very nice of him to do.

“I am not sure how much you are going to see of Toni this year because his schedule is quite packed. He is giving a lot of speeches and has a lot of things to do with the academy.

“I think starting from next year, you might see him a lot more.”

Who Alexander Zverev first wanted as coach out of the big three

When asked if Nadal would have always been his first choice from the big three to coach him, Zverev conceded that wasn’t always the case.

Zverev explained: “Before spending the week with Rafa and Toni in Majorca, I would probably have said Novak. Because I had the most conversations with him, and he kind of gave me a lot of advice.

“But spending the week in Majorca, the intensity that Rafa played at, that is the intensity that he coaches at. It was unbelievable.

“We had dinner and I was so thankful for that, he was unbelievable, but we had dinners until 1 am together, and in the middle of dinner he would stand up and do swinging forehands and show me what technique he wants me to improve on. It was unbelievable how into it he was.

“I was so surprised. I had played Rafa for 10 years of my career and was going to have a nice dinner, just come there and be nice to me, but he was so into it, and he came on court with me and was showing me forehands, trying to improve.

“That day he came on court with me, I played my forehand like Ernest Gulbis to be honest because I was so nervous!

“But it was phenomenal to see. I was so surprised and so thankful. That is not normal. He did not have to do that. He is Rafa Nadal; who the hell am I to him? I was so surprised!”

The advice Rafael Nadal gave Alexander Zverev

Zverev also shared some of the specific advice he received from Nadal, saying: “He told me during the week, I don’t know how many times, that I need to be more brave. He said I need to take it on to myself in the most important moments. I know that as well, but hearing it from someone like him.

“I played him in some of the big matches, I played him at Roland Garros a few times and we had big matches. He always told me when you are aggressive, it’s so difficult to hurt you because I could always move quite well, so I could find the aggressive game from difficult positions. But it is when I hold back that I become vulnerable; it’s when I become more one-dimensional as well.”

He added: “I don’t have the serve and volley like my brother or a good drop shot and slice like Novak. So for me when I become passive, that is when I am more hurtable for the top guys.

“He truly believes, and he told me this a million times before this week even started in Monte Carlo when we were talking there as well… he truly believes that if you can do all those things consistently every single time over two weeks then you can win a Grand Slam.”

Nadal’s assessment adds weight to similar criticisms Zverev has heard before. Only time will tell if he puts those words into action in his upcoming tournaments.