Rafael Nadal Shockingly Linked To Role In Alexander Zverev’s Team

The tennis world might be set for some massive news after Alexander Zverev was pictured training at Rafael Nadal's Academy with Toni Nadal.

Zverev's career achievements have been exceptional. He is an Olympic gold medalist, two-time ATP Finals winner, seven-time Masters 1000 titlist, and has been as high as No. 2 in the ATP rankings.

However, the German has never managed to win a Grand Slam despite reaching three finals. Some think keeping his dad as head coach and not appointing someone with more experience is at least partially to blame for that.

There was speculation about him working with Boris Becker, but the pair appears to have fallen out. Zverev did not like Becker's comments after his 2025 French Open quarterfinal loss to Novak Djokovic.

The 27-year-old withdrew from this week's 2025 Swiss Open in Gstaad. It can now be confirmed that Zverev's work at Nadal's Academy in Mallorca is why he missed the ATP 250 tournament.

A short video of Zverev with Toni Nadal at the Academy can be watched below. The 2020 US Open runner-up is training on a hard court and taking advice from the former long-term coach of his nephew, Rafael.

On the same day that footage emerged, Paul Hauser, a commentator for Sky Sports Germany, provided some incredible news. He said Toni could be appointed Zverev's new head coach, with Rafael acting as a mentor.

It must be stressed that this news is not certain. Hauser, who is usually a reliable and trustworthy source, says it is possible at this stage, but Zverev is definitely in Mallorca training at Nadal's academy.

If Zverev does end up working with Toni and Rafael Nadal, it can be added to the list of surprising appointments in recent years, including Novak Djokovic's spell with Andy Murray that ended in May.

Zverev has worked with other high-profile coaches, including Juan Carlos Ferrero, who has been Carlos Alcaraz's coach for several years, and Ivan Lendl, but those partnerships did not work out, for whatever reason.

Failing to build a successful partnership with two coaches who were or have gone on to be successful with other players (Ferrero with Alcaraz, Lendl with Andy Murray) might have dissuaded Zverev from swiftly appointing another high-profile figure as his coach.

However, it feels like the 2025 Australian Open runner-up needs someone else in his corner with a new approach for Grand Slams. Appointing the man who coached his nephew to so much success from 1990 to 2017 would certainly achieve that.

Toni also coached Felix Auger-Aliassime from 2021 until they split last year. The 64-year-old did not travel with the Canadian full-time because of his role as the director of the Rafa Nadal Academy.

Therefore, it would be interesting to observe how much Toni travels with Auger-Aliassime if he becomes his coach, or if 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael ever would in his role as a mentor.