Tennis player Zverev discusses his mental issues: Suggests a minor fatigue
Alexander Zverev, the top seed in the Toronto tournament, has been open about his struggles with mental health following his shock first-round exit at Wimbledon 2025. He admitted feelings of loneliness, emptiness, and a loss of joy in his tennis and life, and spoke about considering therapy for the first time to address these issues[1][2][3][4].
In response to these challenges, Zverev took proactive steps toward recovery by training with Toni Nadal at the Rafa Nadal Academy shortly after Wimbledon. This collaboration is seen as a strategic move to build his mental resilience, with potential support from Rafael Nadal as a mentor to help him regain confidence and joy in tennis[3]. Zverev's openness and the support from peers like Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka have highlighted the growing acknowledgment of mental health in professional tennis[3].
Zverev's current season has been below expectations, and he has faced setbacks in big matches. However, his history of comebacks, such as recovering from a severe foot injury, gives hope that with this new support system and possible therapy, he can overcome his mental battles and return to top-level success[1][3].
The US Open, starting on August 24th, serves as the next Grand Slam event for Zverev. He will be looking for ways to get out of his mental state and regain his form on the court. Rafael Nadal gave Zverev tips and expressed belief in his ability to win a Grand Slam[6].
Meanwhile, Zverev's opponent in the Toronto tournament, Francisco Cerundolo from Argentina, had to retire due to an abdominal strain during their match[5]. Zverev had dinner with Rafael Nadal several times in Mallorca, and trained at the Rafael Nadal Academy in preparation for the North America tour[7].
In the Australian Open final, Zverev stood no chance against the Italian world number one Jannik Sinner[8]. Zverev was not very motivated to play and didn't enjoy his time on the court after his mental problems. He promised to give more answers about his mental state at the tournaments in Canada[9].
There has been an unfortunate incident off the tennis court as well. Emergency services were called to an accident on a federal highway, and a helicopter took off for a hospital[10]. Despite these challenges, Zverev remains confident in his pursuit of the Grand Slam title.
[1] [Source 1] [2] [Source 2] [3] [Source 3] [4] [Source 4] [5] [Source 5] [6] [Source 6] [7] [Source 7] [8] [Source 8] [9] [Source 9] [10] [Source 10]
- Alexander Zverev, following his struggles with mental health, has sought support from sports stars like Rafael Nadal to regain his confidence and joy in tennis, a part of his health-and-wellness and overall life.
- As Zverev grapples with mental health issues, he is also confronting challenges in his on-court performance, looking to science and therapy for potential solutions to overcome his battles.
- In addition to his dedication to training and skill development, Zverev's foray into mental health discussions and self-care practices is regarded as a significant step in promoting mental health awareness within the realm of sports, particularly tennis.
