Alexander Zverev has appointed former world No.1 Juan Carlos Ferrero to his technical team.
The appointment was confirmed on Thursday in a press release provided by Ferrero’s tennis academy JC Ferrero Equalité to Spanish website Punto de Break. The two will work together only during the North American hard-court season where Zverev will begin his campaign in two weeks time at the Citi Open in Washington. It is understood that the two have already started training together.
“Alexander Zverev is a different player, he has what it takes to be a champion. It’s a challenge that fills me with enthusiasm and I hope to do my best.” Ferrero said in his Spanish press release.
During his career, Ferrero won 16 ATP titles, including the 2003 French Open. He was also runner-up at the US Open that same year. Since retiring from the sport in 2011, he has focused his attention on the his tennis academy, where he supervises training sessions and schedules. Spanish players Pablo Carreño-Busta and Nicola Kuhn are members of the academy.
Last year, the Spaniard spoke highly about Zverev during an interview for the ATP Champions Tour. Ferrero has tipped the German as well as Dominic Thiem to become the future stars of the game once the era of the big four comes to an end.
“I watched Dominic Thiem live and was very impressed. He’s definitely going to be one of the best once Nadal and Roger Federer retire,” he said. “I liked Alexander Zverev a lot as well. Those are the top guys for me.”
At the age of 21, Zverev is the youngest player ranked in the world’s top-30. Earlier in the year he defeated Novak Djokovic to win his first Masters 1000 trophy at the Italian Open. Zverev has also won two further titles this season in France and Germany. At the Wimbledon Championships he reached the fourth round before going out in five sets to Milos Raonic.
The first test of the Zverev-Ferrero partnership will occur in at the Citi Open. The German is set to be seeded fifth in the tournament with the draw being headlined by Thiem.
