Alexander 'Sascha' Zverev's Family Includes 1 Child, Parents Who Played Tennis
Alexander Zverev's family includes a daughter and parents who played professional tennis in the former Soviet Union. He is not married, and has never had a wife, but he does have a long-term girlfriend, a model and German television presenter named Sophie Thomalla.
Zverev is competing in the French Open 2026 final. He is the third-ranked men's professional tennis player in the world, and he plays for Germany, although his parents have Russian roots. Their names are Irina Zverev and Alexander Zverev Sr., who, like his son, is sometimes called Sascha.
"My parents are very calm," Alexander Zverev told The Economist. "They understand what I am doing, and they have both been playing pro tennis so they know how to behave."
Alexander Zverev Was Born in Germany to Mom Irina & Dad Alexander Zverev Sr. He Also Has a Brother Named Mischa
According to People, the 6-foot 6-inch tennis star "was born in Germany to Russian parents Irina and Alexander Zverev Sr. The pair were raised in the Soviet Union and played tennis professionally there before moving to Germany."
They later became tennis instructors and, along with Sascha, they have a son named Mikhail, People reported. The parents coached their two sons to play tennis, but Irina took charge of coaching Alexander, according to People. Zverev's brother is called Mischa.
Mischa Zverev hasn't played professional tennis since 2023; he was ranked 25th at his highest. "Began playing tennis at age 2 with father Alexander, a former ATP pro and now his coach. Mother, Irina, is also a former player and a tennis coach. Brother, Alexander, is 10 years younger and a fellow ATP player," the ATP Tour reported. "Family moved from Russia to Germany in 1991. Admired his father, who according to players such as Alexander Volkov and Yevgeny Kafelnikov, 'played like a cat on the court.'"
The parents were both born in Sochi, Russia, and married young; Irina was only 17 when she married Zverev's dad, according to Telegraph.
According to People, Irina Zverev ranked fourth in the Soviet Union and "became known for her one-handed backhand." Zverev's father "was praised for his slow and strategic gameplay" and "reached his career-high world ranking at No. 175 in 1985," according to People, which noted that he competed in three Grand Slam tournaments, including the French Open.
During the French Open final in 2026, the broadcasters revealed that Zverev's mother gets too nervous to watch his matches in person.
Alexander Zverev Has 1 Child, a Daughter Named Mayla
Zverev has one child, a daughter whom he had with his ex-girlfriend Brenda Patea. That relationship ended badly, with abuse accusations that landed against Zverev in a German court. However, the pair later settled the claim with Zverev maintaining his innocence.
According to Sports Illustrated, Patea announced that she was pregnant with Zverev's child after the pair broke up in 2020. However, Zverev is involved in his daughter's life.
"Mayla Zverev, Alexander's daughter, was born in March of 2021. Since then, Brenda and Alexander have been splitting custody over Mayla, which means that she sometimes attends Zverev's tournament," SI reported. "This has created several wholesome moments between father and daughter at matches."
Zverev's current relationship with Sophie Thomalla appears to be going strong.
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 7, 2026, where it first appeared in the Sports section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
2026 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.
This story was originally published June 7, 2026 at 7:27 AM.