Alexander Zverev facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Alexander Zverev

Zverev in 2022
Country (sports)	Germany
Residence	Monte Carlo, Monaco
Born	(1997-04-20) 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$58,444,092  6th all-time in earnings
Singles
Career record	526–224 (70.13%)
Career titles	24
Highest ranking	No. 2 (13 June 2022)
Current ranking	No. 3 (19 January 2026)
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 (2020)
Doubles
Career record	70–89
Career titles	2
Highest ranking	No. 68 (18 March 2019)
Current ranking	No. 591 (29 January 2026)
Grand Slam doubles results
French Open	1R (2016)
Other doubles tournaments
Olympic Games	QF (2020)
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
US Open	1R (2025)
Other mixed doubles tournaments
Olympic Games	1R (2024)
Team competitions
Davis Cup	SF (2025)
Hopman Cup	F (2018, 2019)
Medal record Representing  Germany Olympic Games Gold 2020 Tokyo Singles

Alexander "Sascha" Zverev (born 20 April 1997) is a German professional tennis player. He is currently ranked as the world No. 3 in singles. He has achieved a career-high ranking of No. 2. Zverev has won 24 titles in singles and two in doubles on the ATP Tour. He has also reached the final of three major tournaments, known as Grand Slams. Some of his biggest achievements include winning a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and two titles at the ATP Finals in 2018 and 2021.

Zverev was once the top-ranked junior player in the world. He won a major junior title at the 2014 Australian Open. He quickly found success as a professional, becoming one of the youngest players to win a Challenger Tour title at just 17. As a teenager, he won two ATP titles and even beat tennis legend Roger Federer. By age 20, he was the youngest player to reach the top 20 rankings since Novak Djokovic. He also helped Team Europe win the Laver Cup multiple times. After a serious ankle injury in 2022, he worked hard to recover and returned to the top 10.

Who is Alexander Zverev?

Alexander Zverev, often called "Sascha" by his family, is a famous tennis player from Germany. He was born on April 20, 1997, in Hamburg. His parents, Irina and Alexander Mikhailovich Zverev, were both professional tennis players for the Soviet Union. His older brother, Mischa, also became a professional tennis player.

Early Life and Tennis Beginnings

Alexander started playing tennis when he was only three years old. He loved it right away! He was a very competitive child. His brother Mischa said that Alexander never wanted to lose. He would not leave the court until he won a match. He also played hockey and football, but by age twelve, he decided to focus only on tennis.

When Alexander was young, his mother was his main coach. She helped him develop a good tennis technique, especially his backhand. His father focused on his physical training, which was very strict. His coaches wanted him to play an aggressive style, hitting the ball hard and finishing points quickly. This was a big change from how he played as a child, when he was slower and focused on keeping the ball in play.

Junior Tennis Career Highlights

Zverev played his first junior match in 2011 when he was 13. He quickly became a top junior player, reaching the world No. 1 ranking. In 2012, he won his first junior title in the United Arab Emirates. The next year, he won his first major junior title at the Trofeo Bonfiglio. He also reached the final of the 2013 French Open for juniors.

In 2013, he finished as runner-up at the Junior International Roehampton. He had to stop playing at Wimbledon because of a shoulder injury. He reached the semifinals of the 2013 Junior US Open. At the end of 2013, he was named the ITF Junior World Champion.

In January 2014, Zverev won the Australian Open junior singles title. This was a great way to end his junior career.

Junior Grand Slam results – Singles:

• Australian Open: W (2014)
• French Open: F (2013)
• Wimbledon: 3R (2013)
• US Open: SF (2013)

Starting His Professional Journey

Zverev at the 2014 Bavarian International Tennis Championships

Zverev started playing professional tournaments at age 14. In 2012, he won his first professional main draw match. In 2013, he made his debut on the ATP Tour at his hometown tournament in Hamburg.

First Big Wins and Top Rankings

After winning the junior Australian Open in 2014, Zverev focused on his professional career. He won his first professional title at the Braunschweig Challenger. He was only 17 years old, making him one of the youngest players to win a Challenger title.

Right after this, he had a big breakthrough at the ATP Tour level. He reached the semifinals of the International German Open. He beat Mikhail Youzhny, who was ranked No. 16, for his first win against a top 20 player. He became the first 17-year-old to reach an ATP semifinal since 2006. By the end of 2014, his ranking had jumped to No. 136.

In 2015, Zverev continued to climb the rankings. He reached his first ATP doubles final with his brother Mischa at the Bavarian International Tennis Championships. He also won his second Challenger title at the Heilbronn Neckarcup, which helped him enter the top 100 for the first time.

Zverev at the 2015 US Open

He made his Grand Slam main draw debut at Wimbledon, winning his first match there. He also upset world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in an exhibition match before Wimbledon. He finished 2015 ranked No. 83 and was named the ATP Newcomer of the Year as the youngest player in the top 100.

Breaking into the Top 20

Zverev at the 2016 US Open

In 2016, Zverev continued to impress. He reached his first ATP singles final at the Open de Nice Côte d'Azur. A big moment came at the Halle Open, where he upset world No. 3 Roger Federer in the semifinals. This was a huge win, making him the first teenager to beat Federer in almost a decade.

After this, he entered the top 30 rankings. Later that year, he won his first career ATP title at the St. Petersburg Open. He beat top players like Tomáš Berdych and Stan Wawrinka to win the title. This success helped him rise to No. 20 in the ATP rankings, becoming the youngest player to reach the top 20 since Novak Djokovic in 2006.

Winning Big Titles and Reaching World No. 3

The 2017 season was a fantastic year for Zverev. He won both the singles and doubles titles at the Open Sud de France. He also won the Bavarian International Tennis Championships at home in Germany.

His biggest wins came at the Masters tournaments. He won his first Masters title at the Rome Masters, defeating Novak Djokovic in the final. This made him the youngest Masters champion since Djokovic in 2007. He then entered the top 10 rankings for the first time. He also won a second Masters title at the Canadian Open, beating Roger Federer in the final. This made him the first player outside of the "Big Four" (Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Murray) to win multiple Masters titles in one season since 2007. Zverev finished 2017 ranked No. 4, and even reached No. 3 just before the ATP Finals.

Becoming a Champion at the ATP Finals

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

In 2018, Zverev continued to be a top player, staying in the top 5 all year. He won his third career Masters title at the Madrid Open, beating Dominic Thiem in the final. He also reached his first major quarterfinal at the French Open.

His biggest achievement of the year was winning the ATP Finals. He defeated Roger Federer in the semifinals and then beat world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the final. This was his tenth career title and his first win against a current world No. 1 player. He became the youngest ATP Finals champion since Djokovic a decade earlier.

Reaching a Grand Slam Final

Zverev at the 2019 French Open

Zverev reached the quarterfinals of the French Open for the second year in a row. He also won a title at the Geneva Open. At the Shanghai Masters, he upset Roger Federer in the quarterfinals and reached the final. He finished the 2019 season ranked No. 7.

In 2020, Zverev had a strong start at the Australian Open, reaching his first major semifinal. He then made history at the US Open. He came back from being two sets down in the semifinals to win the match, reaching his first-ever Grand Slam final. In the final, he faced Dominic Thiem in a thrilling five-set match. Zverev was ahead by two sets and was very close to winning, but Thiem made a comeback, and Zverev finished as the runner-up. Later that year, he won two consecutive ATP titles in Cologne.

Olympic Gold and More Major Wins

The 2021 season was another incredible year for Zverev. He won his 14th ATP title in Acapulco. He then won his fourth Masters 1000 title at the Madrid Open, beating top players like Rafael Nadal, Dominic Thiem, and Matteo Berrettini. He also reached the semifinals of the French Open.

A major highlight was at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (held in 2021). Zverev defeated world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the semifinals after being a set and a break down. He then won the gold medal by beating Karen Khachanov in the final. This made him the first German man to win an Olympic gold medal in singles tennis.

After the Olympics, he won another Masters title at the 2021 Western & Southern Open. He also reached the semifinals of the US Open, extending a 16-match winning streak. He won his fifth title of the year in Vienna. For the fifth year in a row, Zverev qualified for the 2021 ATP Finals. He won the tournament for the second time, defeating Novak Djokovic in the semifinals and Daniil Medvedev in the final.

Reaching World No. 2 and Overcoming Challenges

Zverev at the 2022 Monte-Carlo Masters

In 2022, Zverev reached the final of the Open Sud de France. He also helped Germany qualify for the Davis Cup Finals. He reached the final of the Madrid Open for the third time.

At the French Open, he reached the semifinals. In a tough match against Rafael Nadal, Zverev unfortunately suffered a serious ankle injury, tearing three ligaments. He had to retire from the match and underwent surgery. This injury caused him to miss Wimbledon and the rest of the 2022 season. Despite the injury, he reached a career-high ranking of world No. 2 on June 13, 2022. He ended the year ranked 12th.

Strong Comeback and New Titles

Zverev signing autographs for fans at the 2023 Mutua Madrid Open

Zverev began his 2023 season by playing for Germany in the United Cup and the Davis Cup. He worked hard to regain his form after his injury. He reached the semifinals of the Dubai Championships.

At the Madrid Open, he achieved his 350th career win, becoming the only player under 30 to reach this milestone. He then reached his third consecutive semifinal at the French Open. Later in the year, Zverev won the Hamburg European Open, which was his 20th career ATP title. He also won his 21st title at the Chengdu Open. He qualified for the ATP Finals again, showing his strong return to the top level of tennis.

More Masters Titles and Grand Slam Finals

In 2024, Zverev started strong by reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open. He achieved his first-ever win against a top-5 player at a Grand Slam by defeating Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals. He also reached the semifinals of the Miami Open.

Zverev won his sixth Masters title at the Rome Masters. This was his first Masters title since 2021. He then reached his fourth consecutive French Open semifinal. He defeated Casper Ruud to reach his first major final since the 2020 US Open. In the final, he played a tough five-set match against Carlos Alcaraz, finishing as runner-up.

At Wimbledon, Zverev reached the fourth round. He then reached the final of the 2024 Hamburg Open. At the US Open, he reached the quarterfinals, marking his 450th career win. He won his second Masters 1000 trophy of the season at the 2024 Rolex Paris Masters, defeating Ugo Humbert in the final. This win also helped him reach the World No. 2 ranking. He qualified for the ATP Finals, reaching the semifinals.

Australian Open Final and 500th Win

In 2025, Zverev entered the Australian Open as the second seed. He reached his first final at this major tournament, where he faced Jannik Sinner and finished as the runner-up.

On his birthday, April 20, 2025, Zverev won the Bavarian Open for the third time, earning his 24th career title. This win also helped him reclaim the World No. 2 ranking. He reached the quarterfinals of the French Open.

Australian Open Semifinal

At the Australian Open in January 2026, Zverev made it to the semifinal. He played a thrilling five-set match against Carlos Alcaraz. Zverev was serving for the match in the fifth set but Alcaraz made a comeback to win.

Playing for His Country: Team Competitions

Zverev has proudly represented Germany in many team competitions.

• Laver Cup: He played in the first Laver Cup in 2017, helping Team Europe win. He played an even bigger role in 2018 and 2019, winning the final matches that secured victory for Team Europe. He also played in the 2021 edition, contributing to another win.
• Davis Cup: Zverev made his Davis Cup debut for Germany in 2016. He helped Germany win a tie against Australia in 2018. He also played in the qualifying round for the 2019 finals, helping Germany win against Hungary.
• Hopman Cup: He represented Germany at the Hopman Cup for four years, from 2016 to 2019. In 2018 and 2019, he teamed up with Angelique Kerber and they reached the final both times, playing exciting matches against Switzerland.
• ATP Cup: Zverev played for Germany in the ATP Cup in 2020 and 2021. In 2021, Germany reached the semifinals.
• United Cup: He also represented Germany at the United Cup in 2023. In 2024, he led Team Germany with Angelique Kerber to win the United Cup title. He won crucial singles and mixed doubles matches, saving championship points in the final.

How Alexander Zverev Plays Tennis

Zverev hitting a forehand

Zverev is known as a "baseline counterpuncher." This means he plays from the back of the court, hitting powerful shots to control the game. His main strengths are his strong serve and powerful backhand. He is very tall, which helps him reach many balls and hit serves at sharp angles.

Many people consider his backhand to be one of the best in tennis. He can hit it with great power and accuracy. While his height makes him very strong, he moves well for a tall player. He has worked hard to improve his fitness and strength.

Zverev serving

His serve is also a big weapon, often reaching speeds of 220 kilometers per hour or more. He aims to play well on all court surfaces: hard, clay, and grass. He has won titles on hard and clay courts and reached finals on grass.

Coaches and Training

Zverev has been coached by his parents since he was very young. His mother taught him technique, and his father focused on his overall game. Over the years, he has also worked with famous former tennis players as coaches. These included Juan Carlos Ferrero and Ivan Lendl, both former world No. 1 players. He also worked with David Ferrer.

His coaching team also includes a physio, Hugo Gravil. For many years, he worked with fitness trainer Jez Green, who helped him become stronger and more muscular.

A Look at His Life Off the Court

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, who was born in 2021.

Since 2021, Zverev has been dating German actress Sophia Thomalla. His tennis idol is Roger Federer. He is a fan of the Miami Heat basketball team and the Bayern Munich football team. In his free time, he enjoys playing basketball and golf. He is good friends with fellow tennis players Marcelo Melo, Dominic Thiem, and Andrey Rublev.

Health and Charity Work

In August 2022, Zverev shared that he has type 1 diabetes, a condition he was diagnosed with at age three. That same year, he started the Alexander Zverev Foundation. This charity helps people with diabetes. During a match at the 2023 French Open, there was a discussion about him injecting insulin on-court. Tournament organizers later confirmed he would be allowed to do so.

Career Achievements and Records

Grand Slam Tournament Performance

Grand Slam Finals

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

ATP Finals Wins

ATP Finals Championship Matches

Result	Year	Tournament	Surface	Opponent	Score
Win	2018	ATP Finals, United Kingdom	Hard (i)	Novak Djokovic	6–4, 6–3
Win	2021	ATP Finals, Italy	Hard (i)	Daniil Medvedev	6–4, 6–4

Olympic Gold Medal

Result	Year	Tournament	Surface	Opponent	Score
Gold	2021	Tokyo Olympics 2020	Hard	Karen Khachanov	6–3, 6–1

Awards and Recognition

Zverev has received the following awards:

• German Sportspersonality of the Year (2021)

See also

In Spanish: Alexander Zverev para niños