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 $ 53,764,389  5th all-time in earnings
Singles
Career record	498–212
Career titles	24
Highest ranking	No. 2 (13 June 2022)
Current ranking	No. 3 (19 May 2025)
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 - 83
Career titles	2
Highest ranking	No. 68 (18 March 2019)
Current ranking	No. 343 (30 June 2025)
Grand Slam doubles results
French Open	1R (2016)
Other doubles tournaments
Olympic Games	QF (2021)
Other mixed doubles tournaments
Olympic Games	1R (2024)
Team competitions
Davis Cup	QF (2018)
Hopman Cup	F (2018, 2019)
Medal record Representing  Germany Olympic Games Gold 2020 Tokyo Singles

Alexander "Sascha" Zverev (born 20 April 1997) is a professional tennis player from Germany. He is currently ranked world No. 3. He has won 24 titles in singles and two in doubles on the ATP Tour. He has also reached the final at three major tournaments.

Some of Zverev's biggest achievements include winning a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. He also won the ATP Finals in 2018 and again in 2021. Zverev was once the world No. 1 junior player. He won a major junior title at the 2014 Australian Open. He became one of the youngest players to win a Challenger Tour title at just 17 years old. As a teenager, he won two ATP titles and even beat then-world No. 3 Roger Federer.

At 20 years old, Zverev was the youngest player to enter the top 20 rankings since Novak Djokovic. He played a key role in Team Europe's wins at the Laver Cup in 2018 and 2019. After great results in 2021 and 2022, he got an ankle injury at the French Open. He recovered and returned to the top 10 the next year.

Early Life and Family Background

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

His parents moved to Germany in 1990 and settled there. Zverev, who his family calls Sascha, started playing tennis at age three. He was very competitive as a child. His brother Mischa said Alexander would not accept losing and always wanted to win. He also played hockey and football but decided to focus on tennis around age 12.

When Alexander was young, his mother was his main coach. She helped him develop good technique, especially his backhand. His father focused on physical training, aiming for an aggressive playing style. This was different from how Alexander played at 12, when he was a strong baseline player. His father encouraged him to play fast and aggressively, even if it meant losing some matches early on.

Junior Career Highlights

Zverev played his first junior match in January 2011 when he was 13. He became the world No. 1 junior player. He won his first junior title in 2012 in the United Arab Emirates. He then started playing in higher-level tournaments.

In 2013, he won his first Grade 1 title and then his first Grade A title. He was the youngest boys' singles champion at the Trofeo Bonfiglio. He also finished second at the 2013 French Open. He reached the semifinals of the 2013 Junior US Open. This success helped him become the No. 1 junior player in October. He was named the ITF Junior World Champion for 2013.

In 2014, Zverev played only two junior tournaments, both in Australia. He won both singles events, including the Australian Open. This was his first major junior title and ended his junior career on a high note.

Junior Grand Slam Results

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

Professional Career Beginnings

Zverev at the 2014 Bavarian International Tennis Championships

Zverev started playing professional matches at 14. In August 2012, he won his first main draw match at a Futures event in Germany. In 2013, he made his ATP Tour debut at his hometown tournament, the International German Open.

After winning the junior Australian Open in 2014, Zverev focused on his professional career. In July, he won his first professional title at the Braunschweig Challenger. He was 17 years and 2 months old, making him one of the youngest players to win a Challenger title.

He then had a big breakthrough at the International German Open. He reached the semifinals, beating his first top 20 opponent, No. 16 Mikhail Youzhny. He became the first 17-year-old to reach an ATP semifinal since 2006. His ranking jumped from No. 665 to No. 161. He finished 2014 ranked No. 136.

Breaking into the Top 100 (2015)

Zverev at the 2015 US Open

In 2015, Zverev continued to play Challenger events and qualify for ATP tournaments. He reached his first ATP doubles final with his brother Mischa at the Bavarian International Tennis Championships. He then won his second Challenger title at the Heilbronn Neckarcup, which helped him enter the top 100 of the ATP rankings.

He made his Grand Slam main draw debut at Wimbledon, winning his first match. 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.

First ATP Title and Top 20 Debut (2016)

Zverev at the 2016 US Open

Zverev started 2016 by reaching his first ATP singles final at the Open de Nice Côte d'Azur. He then had a big win at the Halle Open, where he upset world No. 3 Roger Federer in the semifinals. This ended Federer's long streak of reaching the final there. Zverev became the first teenager to beat Federer in almost a decade. After this, he entered the top 30 rankings.

After the US Open, Zverev won his first ATP title at the St. Petersburg Open. He beat No. 9 Tomáš Berdych and No. 3 Stan Wawrinka in the final. He then beat No. 10 Dominic Thiem. By reaching No. 20 in the ATP rankings, he became the youngest player to enter the top 20 since Novak Djokovic in 2006.

Two Masters Titles and World No. 3 (2017)

In 2017, Zverev improved his results at higher-level tournaments. He won both the singles and doubles titles at the Open Sud de France. He also reached his first Masters quarterfinal at the Miami Open.

He won two more titles in May, including the Bavarian International Tennis Championships. He then won his first Masters title at the Rome Masters, beating Novak Djokovic in the final. He was the youngest Masters champion since Djokovic in 2007. This win also put him in the top 10 for the first time.

Zverev won two more titles in August, the Washington Open and his second Masters title at the Canadian Open. He beat Roger Federer in the final of the Canadian Open. He became the first player outside of the "Big Four" (Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Murray) to win multiple Masters titles in one season since 2007. He 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 stayed in the top 5 throughout 2018. He reached the final of the Miami Masters, but lost to John Isner. He continued his success on clay courts, winning his third Masters title at the Madrid Open. He beat Dominic Thiem in the final. He also reached the final of the Rome Masters, where he lost to Rafael Nadal.

He reached his first major quarterfinal at the French Open, winning three five-set matches. He defended his title at the Washington Open. At the end of the season, Zverev qualified for the ATP Finals. He beat Roger Federer in the semifinals and then defeated Novak Djokovic in the final. This was his tenth and biggest title, making him the youngest ATP Finals champion in a decade. It was also his first win against a world No. 1 player.

Shanghai Final and ATP Finals Semifinal (2019)

Zverev at the 2019 French Open

Zverev started 2019 by reaching the fourth round of the Australian Open. He won his only title of the year at the Geneva Open, saving two match points in the final. He then reached his second straight quarterfinal at the French Open, losing to Novak Djokovic.

He reached the semifinals of the German Open and the quarterfinals at the Canadian Open. His best result was reaching the final of the Shanghai Masters, where he beat Roger Federer in the quarterfinals before losing to Daniil Medvedev. This helped him qualify for the ATP Finals. He beat Rafael Nadal in his opening match but lost in the semifinals to Dominic Thiem. He finished the season ranked No. 7.

US Open Finalist (2020)

Zverev started 2020 at the ATP Cup. At the Australian Open, he reached his first major singles semifinal, beating Stan Wawrinka in the quarterfinals. He lost to Dominic Thiem in the semifinals.

At the US Open, Zverev was seeded fifth. He reached his second major semifinal, then came back from two sets down to win against Pablo Carreño Busta. This was his first time winning a match after being two sets behind. He reached his first major final, where he faced Dominic Thiem. He was the runner-up, losing in a close final-set tiebreaker after leading by two sets.

In October, he won two titles in Cologne. He then reached the final of the Paris Masters, beating Rafael Nadal in the semifinals, but lost to Daniil Medvedev. He was eliminated in the group stage of the ATP Finals.

Olympic Gold and Second ATP Finals Title (2021)

Zverev started 2021 at the ATP Cup, helping Germany reach the semifinals. At the Australian Open, he reached the quarterfinals, losing to Novak Djokovic. He won his 14th ATP title in Acapulco, beating Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final.

At the Madrid Open, Zverev won his fourth Masters 1000 title, beating Rafael Nadal, Dominic Thiem, and Matteo Berrettini. He reached the semifinals of the French Open, losing a five-set match to Stefanos Tsitsipas.

At the Olympics in Tokyo, Zverev reached the semifinals. He came back from a set and a break down to beat world No. 1 Novak Djokovic. He then defeated Karen Khachanov in the final to win the Olympic gold medal. He was the first German man to win singles gold in tennis.

After the Olympics, Zverev won his second Masters 1000 title of the year at the 2021 Western & Southern Open, beating Andrey Rublev. At the US Open, he reached the semifinals, but lost to Novak Djokovic in five sets. He won his fifth title of the year at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna.

For the fifth year in a row, Zverev qualified for the 2021 ATP Finals. He defeated the top two seeds, Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev, in the semifinals and final, respectively, to win his second ATP Finals title.

World No. 2 and Ankle Injury (2022)

Zverev at the 2022 Monte-Carlo Masters

Zverev started 2022 at the ATP Cup. At the Australian Open, he reached the fourth round. He reached the final of the Open Sud de France. At the Mexican Open, he was removed from the tournament for hitting the umpire's chair with his racket after a doubles loss.

He helped Germany win their Davis Cup tie against Brazil. At the Madrid Open, he reached his third final at this event, but lost to Carlos Alcaraz. At the French Open, he reached the semifinals for the second year in a row. In his semifinal match against Rafael Nadal, he had to retire after rolling his right ankle and tearing three ligaments. He had surgery for the injury and missed Wimbledon. Despite the injury, he reached a career-high ranking of world No. 2 on June 13, 2022. He suffered another injury later in the year and missed the rest of the season. He ended 2022 ranked No. 12.

French Open Semifinals and Hamburg Title (2023)

Zverev signing autographs for fans at the 2023 Mutua Madrid Open

In 2023, Zverev returned to play after his injury. He reached the semifinals at the Dubai Championships. At the Madrid Open, he recorded his 350th career win. He reached his third consecutive semifinal at the French Open, but lost to Casper Ruud.

He won the Hamburg European Open, which was his 20th career ATP title. During his 2023 US Open match against Jannik Sinner, Zverev stopped play because a fan shouted an inappropriate phrase. Zverev lost the quarterfinal match to Carlos Alcaraz after a long five-set match against Sinner.

He won his 21st title in Chengdu. He qualified for the ATP Finals for the first time since 2021. He won two of his group matches but did not advance to the semifinals.

Masters Titles and French Open Final (2024)

In 2024, Zverev reached the semifinals of the Australian Open for the first time since 2020. He achieved his first win against a top-5 player at a Grand Slam, beating Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals. He lost to Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals.

He reached the semifinals of the Miami Open, his best result there since 2018. Zverev won his sixth Masters title at the Rome Masters, his first Masters title since 2021.

Zverev reached his fourth consecutive French Open semifinal. He then defeated Casper Ruud to reach his first major final since the 2020 US Open. In the final, he lost to Carlos Alcaraz in a close five-set match. At Wimbledon, he reached the fourth round. He also reached the final at the 2024 Hamburg Open.

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

Australian Open Final and Recent Matches (2025)

Zverev entered the Australian Open as the second seed in 2025. He reached his first final at this major, after Novak Djokovic retired in their semifinal match. He lost to Jannik Sinner in the final.

On his birthday, April 20, 2025, Zverev won the Bavarian Open for the third time, earning his 24th career title. He also regained the world No. 2 ranking. He reached the round of 16 at the Madrid Open. At the 2025 French Open, he reached the quarterfinals, where he lost to Novak Djokovic.

Zverev then lost in the first round of Wimbledon to Arthur Rinderknech. This was his first first-round loss at a major since 2019.

Team Competitions

Laver Cup

Zverev has played in the Laver Cup several times for Team Europe. In 2017, he won both his singles matches. In 2018 and 2019, he won the matches that clinched the title for Team Europe. In 2021, he helped Team Europe win again. In 2024, he helped Team Europe win the Laver Cup for the fifth time.

Davis Cup

Zverev made his Davis Cup debut for Germany in 2016. He won his first match in the competition in 2017. In 2018, he helped Germany beat Australia. Germany reached the quarterfinals but lost to Spain. In 2019, he helped Germany win their qualifying round match against Hungary.

Hopman Cup

Zverev represented Germany at the Hopman Cup from 2016 to 2019. In 2018 and 2019, he teamed up with Angelique Kerber and reached the final both years. They faced Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic from Switzerland in both finals. Both times, the final was decided by the mixed doubles match, and Switzerland won.

ATP Cup

Zverev played for Germany at the ATP Cup in 2020 and 2021. In 2020, Germany did not advance from the group stage. In 2021, Germany reached the semifinals, but lost to Russia.

United Cup

Zverev represented Germany at the United Cup in 2023 and 2024. In 2023, Germany did not qualify for the knockout round. In 2024, he led Team Germany with Angelique Kerber. He won his singles matches and mixed doubles matches, helping Germany reach the final. In the final against Poland, Zverev won his singles match and then, with Laura Siegemund, won the deciding mixed doubles match to win the United Cup for Team Germany.

Playing Style

Zverev hitting a forehand

Zverev is an aggressive baseliner. This means he usually plays from behind the baseline and hits powerful shots to win points. Even though he is tall, he moves well on the court. Novak Djokovic has said, "He moves well for his height." His backhand is considered one of the best in tennis. He can hit it with a lot of power and accuracy.

Zverev serving

Because he is 1.98 meters (6 feet 6 inches) tall, Zverev can hit very fast serves, often over 220 kilometers per hour (137 mph). He is good at getting a high percentage of his first serves in. His second serve used to be a weakness, but he has improved it a lot.

Zverev feels comfortable playing on all court surfaces: hard, clay, and grass. He has won titles on hard and clay courts and reached finals on grass. His fitness trainer has 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 mother was his first coach, and then his father took over. He has also worked with former world No. 1 players Juan Carlos Ferrero and Ivan Lendl. He also worked with David Ferrer.

His team also includes a physio, Hugo Gravil. Jez Green, a fitness trainer, worked with Zverev for about seven years, helping him build muscle and improve his movement.

Personal Life

Zverev lives in Monte Carlo, Monaco. He grew up in Hamburg, Germany. He can speak German, Russian, and English. Zverev 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 FC Bayern Munich football team. In his free time, he enjoys playing basketball and golf. His close friends on the tour include Marcelo Melo, Dominic Thiem, and Andrey Rublev.

Health

In August 2022, Zverev shared that he has type 1 diabetes, which he was diagnosed with at age three. That year, he started the Alexander Zverev Foundation to help people with diabetes. During a match at the 2023 French Open, there was a discussion about him being allowed to inject insulin on-court. Tournament organizers later confirmed he could do so.

Career Statistics

Grand Slam Tournament Performance Timeline

Current through the 2025 Wimbledon Championships.

Grand Slam Tournament Finals

Singles: 3 (3 Runners-up)

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

Year–End Championships Performance Timeline

Year-End Championship Finals

Singles: 2 (2 Titles)

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

Olympic Medal Finals

Singles: 1 (1 Gold Medal)

Result	Year	Tournament	Surface	Opponent	Score
Gold	2021	2020 Summer Olympics	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