Alexander Zverev facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

This page is about the German tennis player. For other people, see Alexander Zverev (disambiguation).

Quick facts for kids
Alexander Zverev

Zverev at the 2023 Monte-Carlo Masters

Country (sports)

Germany

Residence

Hamburg

Born

20 April 1997 (age 28)
Hamburg, Germany

Height

1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)

Turned pro

2013

Plays

Right-handed (two-handed backhand)

Coach

Alexander Zverev Sr.

Prize money

US $51,715,361

5th all-time in earnings

Singles

Career record

471–199 (70.3%)

Career titles

Highest ranking

No. 2 (13 June 2022)

Current ranking

No. 2 (4 November 2024)

Grand Slam singles results

Australian Open

F (2025)

French Open

F (2024)

Wimbledon

4R (2017, 2021, 2024)

US Open

F (2020)

Other tournaments

Tour Finals

W (2018, 2021)

Olympic Games

W (2021)

Doubles

Career record

69–80 (46.31%) (46.3%)

Career titles

Highest ranking

No. 68 (18 March 2019)

Current ranking

No. 89 (6 January 2025)

Grand Slam doubles results

French Open

1R (2016)

Other doubles tournaments

Olympic Games

QF (2020)

Other mixed doubles tournaments

Olympic Games

1R (2024)

Team competitions

Davis Cup

QF (2018)

Hopman Cup

F (2018, 2019)

Medal record

Olympic Games

Representing Germany
Gold	2020 Tokyo	Singles

Alexander "Sascha" Zverev (born 20 April 1997) is a German professional tennis player. He is currently ranked world No. 2. He has won 23 singles titles and two doubles titles on the ATP Tour.

Some of his biggest achievements include a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. He also won the ATP Finals twice, in 2018 and 2021. Zverev has reached the final of three major tournaments.

Zverev was the world's best junior player. He won a junior major title at the 2014 Australian Open. He quickly became successful in professional tennis. At 17, he was one of the youngest players to win an Challenger Tour title. By age 20, he was the youngest player to enter the top 20 rankings since Novak Djokovic.

About Alexander Zverev

Early Life and Family

Alexander Zverev was born in Hamburg, Germany, on April 20, 1997. His parents, Irina Zvereva and Alexander Mikhailovich Zverev, were both professional tennis players from the Soviet Union. His older brother, Mischa, is also a professional tennis player.

His parents moved to Germany in 1991 to work as tennis instructors. Alexander started playing tennis at age three. He was very competitive as a child. He played hockey and football too, but chose to focus on tennis around age 12.

His mother was his first coach. She helped him develop his strong technique, especially his backhand. His father focused on physical training. They wanted him to play an aggressive, fast-paced style of tennis.

Junior Career Highlights

Zverev played his first junior match in 2011 when he was 13. He became the world's No. 1 junior player. In 2012, he won his first junior title in the United Arab Emirates.

In 2013, he won his first major junior title at the Trofeo Bonfiglio. He was the youngest boys' singles champion there. He also reached the final of the 2013 French Open junior event. By October, he was ranked No. 1 in the world for juniors. He was named the ITF Junior World Champion, the youngest since 2005.

In 2014, he won the Australian Open junior title. This was his first major junior title. He then ended his junior career to focus on professional tennis.

Australian Open: Won (2014)
French Open: Final (2013)
Wimbledon: Third Round (2013)
US Open: Semifinal (2013)

Professional Tennis Journey

Starting Out (2011–2014)

Zverev at the 2014 Bavarian International Tennis Championships

Zverev started playing professional matches at 14. In 2012, he reached his first professional final. In 2013, he played his first main draw match on the ATP Tour in his hometown.

In 2014, after winning the junior Australian Open, he focused on pro events. He won his first professional title at the Braunschweig Challenger. He was 17 years and 2 months old, making him one of the youngest Challenger winners ever.

He then reached the semifinals of the International German Open. He beat No. 16 Mikhail Youzhny, his first win against a top 20 player. He became the first 17-year-old to reach an ATP semifinal since 2006. He finished 2014 ranked No. 136.

Breaking into the Top 100 (2015)

In 2015, Zverev continued to play Challenger events. He reached his first ATP doubles final with his brother Mischa at the Bavarian International Tennis Championships. He won his second Challenger title at the Heilbronn Neckercup. This win helped him enter the top 100 rankings.

Zverev at the 2015 US Open

He made his Grand Slam main draw debut at Wimbledon. He won his first match there. He also upset world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in an exhibition match before Wimbledon. He finished the year ranked No. 83 and was named the ATP Newcomer of the Year.

First ATP Title and Top 20 (2016)

In 2016, Zverev reached his first ATP singles final at the Open de Nice Côte d'Azur. He lost to Dominic Thiem.

Zverev at the 2016 US Open

He had a big win at the Halle Open. He upset world No. 3 Roger Federer in the semifinals. He was the first teenager to beat Federer in almost a decade. This win helped him enter the top 30.

After the US Open, Zverev won his first ATP title at the St. Petersburg Open. He beat No. 3 Stan Wawrinka in the final. He then rose to No. 20 in the rankings. This made him the youngest player to reach the top 20 since Novak Djokovic in 2006.

Masters Titles and World No. 3 (2017)

In 2017, Zverev won his first doubles title with his brother at the Open Sud de France. He then won two more singles titles in May.

He won his first Masters title at the Rome Masters. He beat Novak Djokovic in the final. This made him the youngest Masters champion since Djokovic in 2007. He also entered the top 10 for the first time.

He won two more titles in August, including his second Masters title at the Canadian Open. He defeated Roger Federer in the final. He was the first player outside the Big Four to win multiple Masters titles in one season since 2007. Zverev finished the year ranked No. 4, reaching a career-high of No. 3.

ATP Finals Champion (2018)

Zverev with the champion's trophy at the 2018 Washington Open

Zverev continued his success in Masters events in 2018. He won his third Masters title at the Madrid Open. He became the only active player outside the Big Four to win three Masters titles. He also reached his first major quarterfinal at the French Open.

At the end of the season, Zverev qualified for the ATP Finals. He defeated Roger Federer in the semifinals. Then, he beat world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the final. This was his tenth and biggest title. He became the youngest ATP Finals champion since Djokovic a decade earlier. This was also his first win against a current world No. 1 player.

Continued Success (2019-2021)

Zverev at the 2019 French Open

In 2019, Zverev reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and the French Open. He won his only title of the year at the Geneva Open. He also reached the final of the Shanghai Masters. He qualified for the ATP Finals again and reached the semifinals.

Zverev practicing at the 2020 Australian Open

In 2020, Zverev reached his first major singles semifinal at the Australian Open. He then made it to his first major final at the US Open. He led by two sets but lost a very close match to Dominic Thiem. Later that year, he won two titles in Cologne.

Zverev at the 2021 French Open

In 2021, Zverev had a fantastic year. He won his fourth Masters title at the Madrid Open, beating Rafael Nadal, Dominic Thiem, and Matteo Berrettini. He reached the semifinals of the French Open.

At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Zverev won the gold medal in singles. He beat world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the semifinals and Karen Khachanov in the final. He became the first German man to win Olympic singles gold. He then won another Masters title at the 2021 Western & Southern Open. He finished the year by winning his second ATP Finals title, defeating both Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev.

Injury and Comeback (2022-2023)

Zverev at the 2022 Monte-Carlo Masters

In 2022, Zverev reached a career-high ranking of world No. 2. He had strong results on clay, reaching the final of the Madrid Open and the semifinals of the Italian Open. At the French Open, he reached the semifinals. However, he suffered a serious ankle injury during his semifinal match against Rafael Nadal. He tore three ligaments and had to miss the rest of the season.

Zverev signing autographs for fans at the 2023 Mutua Madrid Open

Zverev worked hard to recover in 2023. He slowly returned to form. He reached his third consecutive semifinal at the French Open. He won his 20th career ATP title at the Hamburg European Open. He also won another title in Chengdu. He qualified for the ATP Finals again.

Recent Achievements (2024-2025)

In 2024, Zverev reached the semifinals of the Australian Open. He earned his 400th career win there. He also won his sixth Masters title at the Rome Masters.

He reached his fourth consecutive semifinal at the French Open. He then made it to his first French Open final, but lost a tough five-set match. At the US Open, he reached the quarterfinals. He won his 450th career match there. He also won his second Masters 1000 trophy of the season at the 2024 Rolex Paris Masters. This win helped him return to the world No. 2 ranking.

In 2025, Zverev reached his first final at the Australian Open.

Playing Style

Zverev hitting a forehand

Zverev is known as an aggressive baseliner. This means he plays from the back of the court and hits powerful shots. His height (1.98m) helps him reach many balls and hit strong serves. Novak Djokovic has said Zverev "moves well for his height."

His backhand is considered one of the best in tennis. He hits it with great power and accuracy. He can also hit a slice backhand, which is tricky for opponents. While his forehand has improved, it used to be seen as a weaker shot.

Zverev's serve is very powerful. He can hit it over 220 kilometers per hour. He often gets a high percentage of his first serves in. His second serve has also become a strength.

Zverev serving

He can play well on all court surfaces. He has reached finals or won tournaments on hard courts and clay. He has also reached two finals on grass.

Zverev has worked hard on his fitness. His trainer helped him become stronger and more stable on the court.

Coaching Team

Zverev has been coached by his parents since he was very young. His father is currently his main coach.

He has also worked with famous former players. These include Juan Carlos Ferrero and Ivan Lendl. He also worked with David Ferrer in 2020.

Personal Life

Zverev lives in Monte Carlo, Monaco. He grew up in Hamburg, Germany. He can speak German, Russian, and English.

He has a daughter named Mayla, born in 2021. Since 2021, he has been dating German actress Sophia Thomalla.

Zverev looks up to Roger Federer as his tennis idol. He is a fan of the Miami Heat basketball team and FC Bayern Munich football team. In his free time, he enjoys playing basketball and golf. His close friends on tour include Marcelo Melo, Dominic Thiem, and Andrey Rublev.

Health

In August 2022, Zverev shared that he has type 1 diabetes. He was diagnosed at age three. He started the Alexander Zverev Foundation to help people with diabetes. He has worked to ensure he can manage his health during matches.

Team Competitions

Laver Cup

Zverev has played for Team Europe in the Laver Cup several times. He helped Team Europe win in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2021. He won the deciding matches in 2018 and 2019.

Davis Cup

Zverev first played for Germany in the Davis Cup in 2016. He has helped Germany win ties, including against Australia in 2018.

Hopman Cup

Zverev represented Germany at the Hopman Cup from 2016 to 2019. In 2018 and 2019, he teamed up with Angelique Kerber. They reached the final both years, playing against Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic from Switzerland. They lost both finals in very close matches.

ATP Cup

Zverev played for Germany in the ATP Cup in 2020 and 2021. In 2021, Germany reached the semifinals.

United Cup

Zverev also played for Germany in the United Cup in 2023 and 2024. In 2024, he led Team Germany to win the title. He teamed up with Angelique Kerber and Laura Siegemund. He won crucial singles and mixed doubles matches, saving championship points in the final.

Career statistics

Grand Slam tournament performance timeline

**Key**
W	F	SF	QF	#R	RR	Q#	A	NH

(W) Won; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (A) absent; (NH) not held. SR=strike rate (events won/competed)

To avoid confusion and double counting, these charts are updated at the conclusion of a tournament or when the player's participation has ended.

Current through the 2025 Australian Open.

Tournament	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	SR	W–L	Win %
Australian Open	A	Q1	1R	3R	3R	4R	SF	QF	4R	2R	SF	F	0 / 10	31–10	76%
French Open	A	Q2	3R	1R	QF	QF	4R	SF	SF	SF	F		0 / 9	34–9	79%
Wimbledon	A	2R	3R	4R	3R	1R	NH	4R	A	3R	4R		0 / 8	16–8	67%
US Open	Q2	1R	2R	2R	3R	4R	F	SF	A	QF	QF		0 / 9	26–9	74%
Win–loss	0–0	1–2	5–4	6–4	10–4	10–4	14–3	17–4	8–2	12–4	18–4	6–1	0 / 36	107–36	75%

Grand Slam tournament finals

Singles: 3 (3 runner-ups)

Result	Year	Tournament	Surface	Opponent	Score
Loss	2020	US Open	Hard	Dominic Thiem	6–2, 6–4, 4–6, 3–6, 6–7^(6–8)
Loss	2024	French Open	Clay	Carlos Alcaraz	3–6, 6–2, 7–5, 1–6, 2–6
Loss	2025	Australian Open	Hard	Jannik Sinner	3–6, 6–7^(4–7), 3–6