Alexander Zverev parts ways with coach Sergi Bruguera in run-up to French Open 2023
Alexander Zverev has parted ways with his coach Sergi Bruguera in the run-up to the 2023 French Open.
Bruguera has been coaching the 26-year-old since May 2022. Zverev recently lost his status as Germany’s No. 1 tennis player, after losing 6-2, 7-6(3) to Daniil Medvedev in the fourth round of the Italian Open. Jan-Lennard Struff is now the country's top-ranked player.
While making the announcement of the split, Alexander Zverev said that he and his father were not on the same page as the coach about how he should be playing tennis.
"My father, Sergi, and myself, we don't have the same opinion of how I should approach my tennis, how I should play tennis after my injury. I had another opinion, we tried," Zverev said during a media interaction ahead of the French Open 2023.
Asked Zverev about coaching situation:
He and Sergi Bruguera have parted ways
"My father, Sergi and myself we dont have the same opinion of how I should approach my Tennis, how I should play Tennis after my injury"
Said Bruguera is a superb person who helped him a lot
answer👇 https://t.co/nS49d3ExPU
The World No. 27 further stated that Bruguera was in the team due to his father's ill health. The decision to split came after Zverev lost to Carlos Alcaraz (6-1, 6-2) in the Round of 16 at the Madrid Open.
"Sergi is no longer part of the team. It was always a clear plan that he is with me because my father didn't feel well in terms of health. We decided together with Sergi after Madrid a few weeks ago that we finish our work," he said.
"I don't have a single bad word to say about him" - Alexander Zverev on Sergi Bruguera
Alexander Zverev and Sergi Bruguera have been working together since May 2022. The Spaniard, a two-time French Open champion, was instrumental in Zverev's success last year on clay.
Bruguera had previously coached Richard Gasquet and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. when asked about his coach, Zverev said Bruguera was a "superb" person and that he had nothing bad to say about him.
He further stated that the Spaniard helped him a lot in the absence of his father, before wishing the best for him.
"He is a superb person," Zverev said. "I don't have a single bad word to say about him. He helped me extremely [well for] one-and-a-half years ago until Paris last year, in times where my father was not there. I wish him nothing but the best for the future."
Alexander Zverev looks ahead after going through tough phase
Divulging how he plans to get back to his previous level, Alexander Zverev said that his first goal was to get familiar with the competitive environment again.
The German missed most the second half of the 2022 season after he injured himself by tearing all three ligaments in his right ankle. This was after an awkward slide during the semifinals of the French Open 2022 against Rafael Nadal.
The 26-year-old resumed his tennis journey six months later, in January 2023, and has not earned any favorable results thus far. Alexander Zverev also failed to defend his points as the semifinalist in Monte-Carlo and Rome and as the runner-up in Madrid last year.
"For me, I want to go back on my path and I want to be in this familiar environment again. The different opinions were perhaps a bit bigger than we thought after the injury. Before it was crystal clear how I should play tennis. I had confidence and courage on the court and for me it is time to find that back and there are different ways to achieve that. I didn't see this way for me now anymore," he said.
Alexander Zverev is seeded No. 22 at the French Open 2023 and will take on South Africa's Lloyd Harris in the first round.