Alexander Zverev keeps his faith largely private. He was born to a Russian family with a Jewish mother and a Christian father, but Zverev himself has never publicly identified with any religion. In fact, he describes himself as non-religious and rarely discusses faith in interviews.
Quick Profile: Alexander Zverev
| Full Name | Alexander “Sascha” Zverev |
| Born | 20 April 1997 (Hamburg, Germany) |
| Nationality | German |
| Occupation | Professional tennis player |
| Parents | Alexander Zverev Sr. (father), Irina Zvereva (mother) |
| Religion | Non-religious (family has Jewish and Orthodox Christian heritage) |
| Notable Achievements | Olympic Gold (Tokyo 2020); 2× ATP Finals champion (2018, 2021); 24 ATP singles titles |
What Religion is Alexander Zverev?
Zverev has never publicly aligned himself with a specific faith. While some tennis pro like Carlos Alcaraz (Christian) or Jannik Sinner (Christian) have their religious affiliations noted, Zverev’s is not a topic of public discussion in the same way. Media reports note that his mother Irina has Jewish heritage and his father Alexander Sr. was raised Orthodox Christian, giving him a mixed religious background. Despite this, Zverev has stated that he is non-religious.
When asked about belief, he typically says little – focusing on tennis instead. On court you might see him point to the sky or make the sign of the cross, but those seem to be personal gestures of hope or thanks, not evidence of formal religious observance. In short, Alexander Zverev does not officially practice a religion, and he describes himself as secular.
Early Life
Alexander “Sascha” Zverev was born on April 20, 1997 in Hamburg, Germany, to Russian-born parents. His father, Alexander Sr., and mother, Irina Zvereva (née Fateeva), were both professional tennis players for the Soviet Union. When the USSR began to collapse in 1990, his parents moved to Germany to work as tennis coaches in Hamburg. Zverev grew up in this tennis environment – both he and his older brother Mischa (also a pro player) were coached by their parents from a young age. In fact, Zverev started hitting tennis balls around age one and a half, and by age three he was taking formal lessons on court. His family settled in Hamburg, where he spent his childhood; he also later lived part-time in Florida to train. Multilingual from early on, Zverev speaks German (his native language), Russian (from his family), and English fluently.
Career Highlights
Alexander Zverev competing at Wimbledon 2025. Zverev has rapidly established himself among the world’s tennis elite. He has won 24 ATP singles titles to date, including two year-end ATP Finals championships (2018 and 2021). He reached a career-high world No. 2 ranking in June 2022 and was ranked No. 3 as of late 2025. On the biggest stages, Zverev has been a finalist three times: at the Australian Open (2025), the French Open (2024), and the US Open (2020). In 2021 he won the Olympic men’s singles title in Tokyo (becoming the first German man ever to take Olympic tennis gold). He has also captured multiple Masters 1000 trophies (notably Rome and Canada in 2017). His powerful baseline game and athleticism make him a perennial contender at Grand Slams, ATP Tour finals, and team events like the Laver Cup.
Zverev during the quarterfinals of the 2025 Australian Open. In recent years, Zverev has consistently held a top-5 world ranking. For example, he reached the final of the 2025 Australian Open and was a semifinalist at other major tournaments. He won six tour-level titles in 2021 alone, finishing that year as world No. 3. As of late 2025, he remains one of the highest-ranked German players ever, continuing to lead Team Germany in competitions like the Davis Cup.
Personal Life
Outside of tennis, Zverev’s personal life has occasionally made headlines. He resides in Monte Carlo, Monaco (a popular base for many pros). In 2021 he became a father to a daughter, Mayla, born to his former girlfriend Brenda Patea. Later that year he began dating German actress Sophia Thomalla, as of 2025 they are still together.
A significant personal detail is that Zverev was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 3. In 2022 he launched the Alexander Zverev Foundation to support people living with diabetes. When asked in interviews, Zverev often highlights how he manages his diabetes along with his tennis career, but he otherwise keeps health and personal interests relatively private. He is known to enjoy basketball and golf in his free time, and is a fan of the NBA’s Miami Heat and soccer club Bayern Munich.
Awards and Honors
- ITF World Junior Champion (2013): As a 16-year-old, Zverev won the Australian Open boys’ singles title and was later named the ITF Junior World Champion.
- ATP Newcomer of the Year (2016): Early in his pro career, he received the ATP Tour’s Newcomer of the Year award for his breakthrough results
- German Sportsman of the Year (2021): After winning Olympic gold, Zverev was voted Germany’s Sportsman of the Year (a prestigious national honor). He was the first German tennis player to earn this award since Michael Stich in 1991.
- In addition to the above, Zverev has been named in year-end ATP teams of the season and has won several tournament-specific honors (e.g. multiple Masters 1000 titles).
Endorsements and Earnings
Zverev’s success on court has translated into lucrative sponsorships and earnings. As of 2025, his career prize money tops $53 million and he is estimated to have a net worth around $14 million. Brand endorsements add roughly another $15 million to his income. His major sponsorships include top sports and luxury brands:
- Adidas – Official apparel and shoes since 2016
- Head – Tennis racquets (contract extended through 2030)
- Rolex – Partnership (luxury watches) began in 2021
- Jacob & Co. – Watch brand (deal started in 2025)
- Vitale 1913 – Custom jewelry at Grand Slams (collaboration tied to charity causes)
- Z Zegna (Zegna) – Fashion (casual wear line since 2018)
- Peugeot – Automotive sponsor (since 2015)
- Electronic Arts (EA) – Video games (e.g. tennis games partnership since 2020)
- ImproVR – Virtual reality training tech (partner since 2021)
- FlowBank – Financial services (debut partnership in 2024, includes wellness initiative)
- Bitpanda – Cryptocurrency platform (kit sponsor in 2024)
His endorsements portfolio also includes smaller deals (for example, eyewear by Zepter and travel services), and he is often rumored to be negotiating new apparel contracts worth tens of millions annually. In total, conservative estimates place Zverev’s career earnings (prize money plus endorsements) at around $74 million.
