{"id":2106889,"date":"2026-08-22T18:52:31","date_gmt":"2026-08-22T15:52:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2106889"},"modified":"2026-08-22T18:52:31","modified_gmt":"2026-08-22T15:52:31","slug":"toni-nadal-reveals-key-advice-he-gave-alexander-zverev-calls-rafael-jodar-best-of-his-generation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2106889","title":{"rendered":"Toni Nadal reveals key advice he gave Alexander Zverev, calls Rafael Jodar \u2018best of his generation\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"ps-article-content rounded-lg lg:mt-5 lg:border lg:border-card lg:bg-card lg:shadow-primary\">\n<header>\n<h1 class=\"py-4 text-xl font-normal text-title sm:text-2xl\">Toni Nadal reveals key advice he gave Alexander Zverev, calls Rafael Jodar \u2018best of his generation\u2019<\/h1>\n<div class=\"my-2 flex items-center justify-between\">\n<div class=\"flex items-center\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/author\/oliver-paton\" class=\"text-sm font-normal !text-author\"><br \/>\n                            Oliver Paton                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <time class=\"ml-3 text-sm font-normal text-info md:ml-4\" datetime=\"22 Aug 2026 7:52 PM\" data-ps-date=\"22 Aug 2026 7:52 PM\" data-ps-datetime=\"1787424751\"><br \/>\n                            22 Aug 2026 7:52 PM                        <\/time>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"hidden justify-end space-x-4 text-xl sm:flex sm:!opacity-100\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_dark.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on 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flipboard\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"sm:hidden flex items-center space-x-5\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_dark.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 dark:hidden h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_light.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <button id=\"t365-article-share-btn-hidden\" class=\"mr-2 hidden h-6 w-6 appearance-none border-none !text-share-icon outline-none hover:!text-share-icon-active sm:hidden\" data-title=\"Toni Nadal reveals key advice he gave Alexander Zverev, calls Rafael Jodar \u2018best of his generation\u2019\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/button>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5 border-b border-page\"><\/div>\n<section>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5\">\n<figure class=\"aspect-h-9 aspect-w-16 relative\">\n                                        <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1320\" height=\"742\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"w-full h-full object-cover object-center !my-0\" src=\"https:\/\/d2me2qg8dfiw8u.cloudfront.net\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/resizeplus_IMAGE-LEFT-TEXT-RIGHT-ALIGNED-1320x742.jpg\" alt=\"Zverev Jodar\">                <\/figure><figcaption class=\"flex items-center space-x-3 border-b border-mobile-caption px-3 lg:border-caption\">\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-1.5 break-words !text-xs !text-content\">\n                                Alexander Zverev and Rafael Jodar                            <\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<div class=\"ciam-article-t365\"><!-- Article Start --><\/p>\n<p>Toni Nadal says he told <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/alexander-zverev\">Alexander Zverev<\/a> that he must \u2018accept\u2019 that Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are better than him, while hailing Rafael Jodar as the \u2018best of the new generation\u2019 during a recent speaking event.<\/p>\n<p>After Jannik Sinner\u2019s shock withdrawal from the upcoming US Open, Zverev will lead the final Grand Slam of the season as the top seed.<\/p>\n<p>Little over two months ago, he won his maiden Grand Slam title \u2013 at the French Open \u2013 and, a few weeks later, went back to the last 16 at Wimbledon for the first time, losing out to Sinner in \u00a0a tight final.<\/p>\n<p>Given the results and the Italian\u2019s absence, it is not a bold claim to suggest that Zverev is the odds-on favourite in New York.<\/p>\n<p>However, in a recent interview for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.menshealth.com\/es\/fitness\/a71334365\/toni-nadal-rafa-nadal-preparador-fisico-cantera-tenis-rafael-jodar-carlos-alcaraz\/\">Men\u2019s Health<\/a>, Toni Nadal \u2013 who coached Rafael Nadal since he was three years old \u2013 revealed that he gave the German some candid advice surrounding his mindset against the world\u2019s best.<\/p>\n<p>Zverev has travelled to the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca post-Wimbledon for the last two years, often seen with Toni and Rafael Nadal courtside.<\/p>\n<h2>Latest Tennis News<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/serena-williams-carlos-alcaraz-confirmed-pair-us-open-mixed-doubles\">Carlos Alcaraz &amp; Serena Williams confirmed to pair up for US Open mixed doubles<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/atp-tour\/jannik-sinner-warned-2026-season-could-end-early-after-us-open-withdrawal\">Jannik Sinner warned his 2026 season could \u2018end early\u2019 after US Open withdrawal<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere are two players who are extraordinary, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, but I think the others have lost faith a bit,\u201d suggested Nadal.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI advised Alexander Zverev that you have to accept that they are a little above him, but I gave him the case that, with Rafael -his nephew-, Federer and Djokovic above their rivals, Andy Murray won three Grand Slams and Stan Wawrinka won another three. We have to go for it.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe both know that when you go out to play against Alcaraz or Sinner you will be less likely to win, but fight and try to be present all the time; and, in the end, you\u2019ll likely have your reward. I can\u2019t guarantee it, but obviously, if you try to do things well, knowing the difficulty, you will be able to achieve it.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDavid Ferrer never gave up and neither did Murray when he fought Federer. He lost more times, yes; but he didn\u2019t give up before leaving.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Most recently, Zverev lost in his first match in Toronto (to Tallon Griekspoor) and fell in the fourth round of the Cincinnati Open (to Tommy Paul).<\/p>\n<p>Nadal also gave a rare insight into the future of Spanish tennis, after being asked about rising star Jodar.<\/p>\n<p>The young Spaniard has had a breakthrough 2026 season, winning his first ATP title (in Marakeech), reaching the last eight at the French Open and Madrid Open, and the semi-finals of the recent Canadian Masters.<\/p>\n<p>The 19-year-old sensation started 2025 ranked as the world No 895 and has now reached a career-high ranking of world No 11.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am liking Rafael J\u00f3dar a lot because of what I have seen. It seems to me that it is the best of the new generation,\u201d analysed Nadal.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe is 19 years old and has burst onto the circuit very strongly. He\u2019s a guy who, in a short time, has gone from being an unknown and playing in satellites or tournaments prior to the professional circuit, to beating a Top 10 player and giving Sinner a fight.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t think he\u2019s an Alcaraz, I don\u2019t think he\u2019s as good as him, but I think he\u2019s going to put the best in the world in trouble because he\u2019s a brave guy in difficult moments. All this can lead him to achieve great goals.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><!-- Article End --><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Toni Nadal reveals key advice he gave Alexander Zverev, calls Rafael Jodar \u2018best of his generation\u2019 Oliver Paton 22 Aug 2026 7:52 PM Alexander Zverev and Rafael Jodar Toni Nadal says he told Alexander Zverev that he must \u2018accept\u2019 that Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are better than him, while hailing Rafael Jodar as the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,249],"class_list":["post-2106889","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-tennis365-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2106889","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2106889"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2106889\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2106889"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2106889"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2106889"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}