Alexander Zverev is enjoying a career-high ranking of No8 this week at the Citi Open and has a new secret weapon in his corner in the form of ex-world No1 Juan Carlos Ferrero.

Zverev reached his best ranking this week after titles earlier this year in Rome, Munich and Montpellier and comes into the North American hard-court campaign confident of bigger things to come.

“It was an easy decision to bring him in. He was a Grand Slam champion and world number one,” said Zverev, who survived a tough three-setter in the Washington second round on Wednesday to come through 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5) against Australian Jordan Thompson.

“To have him at the big tournaments is something special for me, for the mentality above all.”

Ferrero, the 2003 French Open champion who topped the rankings for eight weeks in September and October 2003, began working with Zverev on hard courts over the past two weeks in Tampa, Florida, in a deal that runs through the end of the year.

“Zverev is a different player. He has the manner of a champion,” Ferrero told www.atpworldtour.com. “It’s a challenge I’m keen to take on and do the best job I can.”

Ferrero is working at an event with Zverev for the first time this week in Washington. He plans to be there for him at tune-ups and the US Open, then during the ATP Asian swing and European indoor season.

Welcome to the team JCF #teamzverev #newvoice A post shared by Alexander Zverev (@alexzverev123) on Jul 21, 2017 at 11:33am PDT

“He’s a perfect guy. He’s so smart and understands tennis so well,” Zverev said. “He can really help me.”

Zverev asked Ferrero to start working with him at the Madrid Open in May. They have been talking almost daily since then.

“He surprised me with how strong he is,” Ferrero said. “I think he’s ready to grow up a little bit and improve the things he has to improve. It’s a good start.

“His attitude on the court sometimes is up and down. He’s young and he has to control his emotions on the court. But day by day.”

The 37-year-old Spaniard runs his own academy and had not planned on working with a player until Zverev came along, saying, “It was a great opportunity for me to be a part of his team.”

Zverev and his older brother Mischa, ranked 26th, are coached by their father, Alexander Sr., with Ferrero coming in as a second pair of eyes in the team.

“The move was really me and my dad together to bring in someone. He wanted someone we both trust and both listen to. We all get along,” Zverev said.

“He was one of the hardest working guys and he’s such an easy guy to be around. He’s not out to take my father’s place and my father is not out to take his place. From that perspective it’s a perfect fit.”

Zverev calls his father “one of the greatest coaches of all time” for guiding him and his brother into the top-25.

“He has two sons in the top-25 who play completely different styles. That’s not easy to do,” Zverev said. “I don’t know who else has done that from scratch.”

Zverev became the youngest player since 2008 to crack the top-10 after winning in Rome, his finals victory over Novak Djokovic one of four he has taken over top-10 foes this year.

The 20-year-old German next faces Tennys Sandgren in the third round in Washington.

*Provided by AFP​