10 things about Russian-German tennis player Alexander Zverev

Alexander Zverev is a Russian-German professional tennis player born and raised in Hamburg, Germany. His Russian parents Alexander Mikhailovich Zverev Sr. and Irina Zvereva both competed as professional tennis players for the Soviet Union.

BIOGRAPHY

Alexander lives in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Here are 10 more things about him:

1. He is 10 years younger than his brother Mischa Zverev, who is also a professional tennis player.
2. He is 6’6″ tall.
3. In 2000, he started playing tennis and was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.
4. In 2002, he started to play tennis at least half an hour a day.
5. In 2011, he played his first junior match at a grade 4 tournament in Poland and entered his first event on the International Tennis Federation (ITF) junior circuit.
6. In 2013, he turned pro.
7. In January 2014, he won the 2014 Australian Open boys’ singles.
8. In September 2016, he won the 2016 St. Petersburg Open singles, which was his first ATP title.
9. In 2021, he represented Germany at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
10. On April 20, 2024, he turned 27.

TIMELINE

Alexander’s nickname is Sascha and he speaks German, Russian and English. Aside from tennis, he also plays basketball and golf.

2018

• In June 2018, he finished in the quarterfinals of the 2018 French Open men’s singles after losing to Dominic Thiem.

2019

• In June 2019, he finished in the quarterfinals of the 2019 French Open men’s singles after losing to Novak Djokovic.

2020

• In January 2020, he finished in the semifinals of the 2020 Australian Open men’s singles after losing to Thiem again.
• In September 2020, he finished in the semifinal of the 2020 U.S. Open men’s singles after losing to Pablo Carreño Busta.
• In October 2020, Racquet magazine published an article by Ben Rothenberg, in which his ex-girlfriend Olga Sharypova accused him of physically and emotionally abusing her over the course of their relationship. 

2021

• In February 2021, he finished in the quarterfinals of the 2021 Australian Open men’s singles after losing to Djokovic again.
• In March 2021, his former girlfriend Brenda Patea gave birth to their daughter.
• In June 2021, he finished in the quarterfinals of the 2021 French Open men’s singles after losing to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
• On August 1, 2021, representing Germany, he won gold in men’s singles in tennis at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.
• On August 25, 2021, Slate magazine published an article by Rothenberg about Sharypova’s allegations against him.
• In September 2021, he finished in the quarterfinals of the 2021 U.S. Open men’s singles after losing to Lloyd Harris.
• In October 2021, it was reported that he was dating German actress Sophia Thomalla and the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) announced an investigation into Sharypova’s allegations against him.

2022

• In June 2022, he finished in the semifinals of the 2022 French Open men’s singles after losing to Rafael Nadal.

2023

• In January 2023, the ATP announced that he would not be punished due to insufficient evidence to substantiate Sharypova’s allegations against him.
• In June 2023, he finished in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open men’s singles after losing to Casper Ruud.
• In July 2023, he was issued with a penalty order over alleged bodily harm against Patea.
• In September 2023, she finished in the quarterfinals of the 2023 U.S. Open men’s singles after losing to Carlos Alcaraz.

2024

• In January 2024, he finished in the semifinals of the 2024 Australian Open men’s singles after losing to Daniil Medvedev.
• In June 2024, he was runner-up to Alcaraz, who won the 2024 French Open men’s singles.
• In September 2024, he finished in the quarterfinals of the 2024 U.S. Open men’s singles after losing to Jannik Sinner.

2025

• In January 2025, he was runner-up to Sinner, who won the 2025 Australian Open men’s singles.