Alexander Zverev celebrates his 21st birthday today, Friday. Before his match against Richard Gasquet (4th match after 11 am on SKY and in the LIVETICKER) tennisnet lists 21 facts you should know about Germany’s current number one.
Zverev’s match record as an under 21 player on the ATP World Tour is impressive. 133 victories face 76 defeats, with six titles, including two Masters victories, and four further finals.
First Zverev’s nickname is Sascha. That’s the Russian pet form for his first name.
Zverev’s parents, Alexander senior and Irina, came to Germany in 1991 and trained in Mölln (Schleswig-Holstein) before settling in Hamburg. Alexander senior is Zverev’s trainer and was Russian Davis Cup player and number 175 in the ATP ranking.
Zverev’s dam Irina was also a professional player and number 380 in the WTA ranking. She hardly ever watches Alexander’s matches because she is much too nervous. During the matches she usually goes for a walk with the dog.
4 Speaking of dogs: The family dog of the Zverevs is a poodle and is called Lövik. Before most matches Zverev gives the dog a kiss.
5. Take care when you see Zverev play! He never reaches for a towel between the dots, as he leaves his towel on the bench in comparison to almost all his colleagues. In addition, he often doesn’t wait for the referee to call “Time” during the break and is already on the pitch.
Zverev is the only German to date to finish one year in the ITF Junior Ranking as number one in the world.
Zverev ended his junior career as the world’s number one by winning the Australian Open 2014.
Zverev reached his first professional final at the age of 15, at the ITF tournament in Bradenton.
Zverev won his first professional title at the age of 17 as a wild card player at the ATP Challenger tournament in Braunschweig.
Two weeks later he sensationally reached the semi-finals at his home tournament at Rothenbaum in Hamburg.
Page 1: Junior Career, Rituals and the Dog of the Zverev Family
Page 2: Zverev’s greatest successes and holidays with WTA players