Alexander Zverev 'surprised' by Rafael Nadal as German practices with icon

Alexander Zverev has spoken about the time he spent working with Toni Nadal and Rafael Nadal in Mallorca. The German revealed that he received plenty of advice from his ex-rival while working with Nadal's uncle and former coach Toni Nadal during his time in Spain.

The 28-year-old enjoyed a 10-day stint at the Rafa Nadal Academy ahead of the US hard-court summer and has teased working with Toni again in the future.

During that time, the world No. 3 also spent some time with 22-time Grand Slam champion Nadal, and he picked up a few tips from the former superstar on the court. Speaking on the Nothing Major podcast, Zverev said: "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.

"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." Nadal and Zverev faced off on 11 separate occasions during the former's playing days, and so Rafa was certainly appeared well-positioned to hand out advice.

Zverev then went on to confirm that Toni would not be joining his coaching team any time soon due to his ongoing commitments, though he did not rule out working with the Spaniard further down the line.