As the ATP Tour descends on Toronto for the 2025 National Bank Open, top seed Alexander Zverev is poised to make a statement after a humbling first-round exit at Wimbledon last month. The world No. 3, a former champion at this prestigious ATP Masters 1000 event in 2017, arrives with renewed confidence, bolstered by an unexpected source: retired tennis legend Rafael Nadal. Zverev’s recent 10-day visit to Nadal’s training academy in Mallorca has provided him with unique insights into his own game, offering a fresh perspective as he aims to reclaim his form on the hard courts of Canada and build momentum for the upcoming US Open.
Zverev’s Wimbledon loss to American Taylor Fritz marked a low point in a challenging 2025 season. Despite reaching the Australian Open final, where he fell to Jannik Sinner, and securing a title on the clay courts of Munich, the German has struggled to maintain the consistency that saw him ranked No. 2 in 2022. Seeking a spark, Zverev traveled to Mallorca, where he spent time with Nadal, the 22-time Grand Slam champion who retired in 2024, and his uncle Toni, the coaching mastermind behind much of Nadal’s success. “I went there, I saw him, and it was an amazing 10 days,” Zverev said, reflecting on his time at the Rafa Nadal Academy. “I really enjoyed it and I’m very thankful to him and to Rafa also for welcoming me the way I did.”
The visit wasn’t just a casual retreat. Zverev engaged in deep conversations with Nadal, gaining a rare glimpse into how one of the sport’s greatest competitors viewed him as an opponent. “They definitely spent a lot of hours talking to me, and Rafa gave me some great insight of what it is actually like to play against me,” Zverev shared. “He saw me as a player. He sees me now as a spectator. It was very helpful. We spent hours and hours talking, sometimes past midnight at some dinners.” Nadal’s perspective, shaped by their 10 career encounters—where Nadal leads 7-3, including a dramatic 2022 French Open semifinal—offered Zverev a tactical edge. The Spaniard’s ability to dissect Zverev’s aggressive baseline game and powerful serve provided clarity on areas for improvement.
Zverev also sought to enlist Toni Nadal as a traveling coach, a move that could have paired him with the strategist who guided his nephew to 14 French Open titles. “He’s a great coach, no question about that, but he’s a personality that I think can give you confidence as well,” Zverev said of Toni. “When he speaks and when Rafa speaks, you listen.” Although Toni, who previously coached Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, has not yet committed, Zverev remains hopeful. “I’m trying to convince him to do more weeks with me, and we’ll see how it goes, but he’s a very busy man,” he added, noting that discussions about a potential partnership will crystallize in the coming weeks. Toni’s earlier critique of Zverev’s mentality—suggesting he needs to stay focused early in matches to compete for Grand Slams—underscored the value of his potential involvement.
In Toronto, Zverev faces Australian Adam Walton in the second round on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, after receiving a first-round bye as the top seed. The German, who boasts a 72% win rate on hard courts and a 7-2 record at the Canadian Open, is favored to advance, with predictive models giving him an 82% chance of victory. His 2017 title run, where he defeated Roger Federer in the final, remains a career highlight, and Zverev is eager to replicate that success. “I think at this stage for me it’s about winning, and trying to maximize what I have,” he said, emphasizing his goal to harness the lessons from Mallorca to elevate his game.
The Toronto field is stacked, with Americans Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton, and Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti among the top seeds, alongside Canadians Felix Auger-Aliassime, Denis Shapovalov, and Gabriel Diallo. Zverev’s path to the title could include a quarterfinal clash with Musetti, whom he defeated in a five-set thriller at Roland Garros 2024. As he navigates the tournament, Zverev’s time with Nadal has instilled a renewed sense of purpose. “If he can maximize what I have, and he can maximize the potential that I have, I’m sure that I can have a lot more success in my career,” he said, crediting Toni’s coaching philosophy. With the US Open on the horizon, Zverev’s Toronto campaign is a critical step toward achieving his ultimate goal: a maiden Grand Slam title to cement his place among tennis’s elite.
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