Toronto top seed Zverev got expert insight from retired rival Rafa
Zverev confirmed on Sunday in Toronto that he had sought advice -- and possibly a new coach -- as he travelled to Mallorca this month to visit Nadal's training academy on the Spaniard's home island.
While apparently failing to sign Nadal's uncle Toni as his travelling coach, Zverev did have a chance to chat with Nadal, who retired last season.
"(Toni is) a great coach, no question about that, but he's a personality that I think can give you confidence as well," the German said.
"When he speaks and when Rafa speaks, you listen.
"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.
"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. It was great to be there."
Zverev, a 2017 titleholder in Canada who has always been coached by his father, said that after his 10-day visit to Spain he is still trying to persuade Toni to come join his coaching team.
"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," Zverev said.
"I'm not sure how much of him you'll see this year, because he gave his word to a lot of events. But we're talking about what a potential partnership could look like, for sure."
Zverev said the situation will be clearer "in a few weeks."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
France 24
an hour ago
- France 24
Osaka ousts Ostapenko to reach WTA fourth round at Canada
The 27-year-old Japanese star, twice a winner at the US and Australian Opens, will meet either two-time defending champion Jessica Pegula, the US third seed, or Latvian Anastasija Sevastova in Montreal's round of 16. Osaka is one match away from making her first quarter-final run at a Grand Slam or WTA 1000 event since she returned from maternity leave at the start of 2024. World number 49 Osaka broke on a double fault to capture the first set in 30 minutes. In the second set, Ostapenko netted a forehand to hand Osaka a break for a 3-1 lead but rallied and broke back in the next game on a forehand crosscourt winner. Osaka broke again for a 4-2 lead when Ostapenko netted a forehand and Osaka served for the match leading 5-3, but Ostapenko saved a match point on a forehand crosscourt winner and broke when Osaka sent a forehand beyond the baseline. The Japanese star responded by breaking Ostapenko at love in the final game, the Latvian netting a backhand to conclude matters after 72 minutes. Osaka improved to 3-0 lifetime against the Latvian, having also beaten her at the 2016 French Open and last year's US Open in the first round without dropping a set. Also advancing was Danish 16th seed Clara Tauson, who dispatched Ukraine's Yuliia Starodubtseva 6-3, 6-0. Later matches include Polish second seed Iga Swiatek against Germany's Eva Lys, with the winner advancing to face Tauson. Britain's Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open winner, takes on US fifth seed Amanda Anisimova.
France 24
13 hours ago
- France 24
McIntosh, Ledecky set up 800m world title showdown
American great Ledecky, 28, is the undisputed master in the event, having won the title at the last four Olympics and updating her own world record in May this year. But McIntosh, 10 years Ledecky's junior, is in the mood to snatch her crown as she looks to join Michael Phelps as the only swimmer to win five individual titles at a single world championships. The 18-year-old Canadian has already bagged three golds from three events in Singapore and she clocked the third-fastest 800m freestyle time ever in June. The other nine times on the top 10 all belong to Ledecky but McIntosh's form suggests a changing of the guard could be on the cards. Ledecky fired the first shots in Friday morning's heats, qualifying for Saturday's final fastest in a time of 8min 14.62sec, with McIntosh third in 8:19.88. McIntosh said she felt in good shape after winning 200m butterfly gold the previous night, and she had the rest of the day and the following morning to recover before the final. "I felt a lot better than I thought I was going to this morning," McIntosh said after her heat. "I've been recovering really well, probably the best I ever have in a big meet like this. "We're on day six so to feel like this is really promising." Titanic tussle Ledecky made her international breakthrough in the 800m free, winning gold at the 2012 London Olympics at the age of 15. She went on to dominate the event for more than a decade and showed that she still had plenty to offer in June when she smashed her own world record, which had stood since 2016. McIntosh also headed to Singapore in red-hot form, breaking three world records in a matter of days at the Canadian trials in June. McIntosh and Ledecky have already had their first head-to-head in Singapore, with McIntosh coming out on top to win gold in the 400m free. The Canadian is a relative newcomer to the 800m free but she safely negotiated the heats with the minimum of fuss. "My goal was just to win my heat to pretty much secure that I'll get a lane for tomorrow night's final and do that with the least amount of energy possible," she said. "I'm just trying to get through it because I've never really done 800 heats before so I don't know what to expect. "I'm just glad it's over and done with now." Australia's Lani Pallister and Italy's Simona Quadarella will also hope to stand on the podium after Saturday's race but all eyes will be on Ledecky and McIntosh in the battle for gold. "Having all those girls around me will definitely push me to a really good time and I'm really excited to race Katie tomorrow night," said McIntosh.
France 24
16 hours ago
- France 24
Zverev rallies in Toronto to claim milestone 500th ATP match win
Germany's Zverev broke twice in the deciding third set to reach the fourth round of the US Open tuneup, converting his second match point to back up his defeat of the Italian ealier this year in Acapulco. "It's a great achievement," Zverev, winner of 24 ATP titles, said of reaching 500 career match wins. "Not a lot of player reach this milestone. "But I still want 500 more -- maybe even more," he joked. "You always want to win as many matches as possible. I'm all about this." Unable to gain the upper hand in an 82-minute first set, Zverev said his game improved as the minutes dragged on against 2024 Canadian semi-finalist Arnaldi. "I started playing better from the baseline and found my rhythm a bit. My backhand felt off but I was comfortable and happy with my level," added Zverev who next faces Francisco Cerundolo -- a 6-3, 6-4 winner over fellow Argentine Tomas Echeverry. Alex Michelsen reached a Masters 1000 fourth round for the first time with a 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 upset victory over third-seeded Lorenzo Musetti. The 20-year-old American survived nearly 50 unforced errors and converted just two of nine break chances, but it was enough to vanquish Italy's Musetti, a two-time Grand Slam semi-finalist ranked 10th in the world. "It feels really good," the 26th-ranked Michelsen said after finally converting his seventh match point. "I've put in a lot of hard work and it's paying off a little bit. I was wondering when it would happen and I guess it is starting to happen right now. "I returned really well today," he added. "I played offensive tennis and executed really well." Michelson will face fellow American Learner Tien for a place in the quarter-finals. Tien beat compatriot Reilly Opelka 7-6 (7/3), 6-3. Fifth-seeded Holger Rune advanced with an efficient 6-2, 6-4 result over Frenchman Alexandre Muller. Ruud rallies Eighth-seeded Casper Ruud shook off a slow start to beat Portugal's Nuno Borges 7-5, 6-4. The Norwegian was playing only his fourth match since Roland Garros after missing Wimbledon because of injury. Trailing 4-1 in the first set, Ruud thwarted Borges's two chances for a 5-1 lead, methodically lifting his game and taking control with a late break before earning the lone break of the second set for his 20th win of the season. "I just crawled into the first set," said Ruud, who fired nine aces. "I was able to get back into it. One break and things can happen. I raised my return game and got more balls back into play. "In the second set I got the break and served my way through." Despite his sluggish start, Ruud was delighted to beat Borges after falling to him at Roland Garros in May. "It was nice to get my revenge," said Ruud, who next faces 11th-seeded Karen Khachanov. Khachanov, seeded 11th defeated US qualifier Emilio Nava 6-7 (6/8), 6-4, 6-1 to book his second Masters round of 16 spot this season.
