The Zverev brothers are back with another family tale. As he steps onto the courts of the 2024 Shanghai Masters, Alexander Zverev is spilling the family secrets while battling formidable opponents on the court. He was recently sidelined from a hospital stint and missed out on the China Open in Beijing. But Zverev’s journey is anything but ordinary. Growing up in a household steeped in sports, his relationship with his parents had its pros and cons. And in the world of tennis, few stories are as captivating as that of Alexander Zverev and his family dynamics.

During an episode on his podcast ‘A BIS Z’ Alexander is joined by his brother and co-host, Mischa Zverev. As the brothers delve into his journey in professional tennis among other topics. Their guests, Carmen and Robert Geiss, asked them to shed light on a rather exciting subject, “How was it for you two? Did you also play it out like mom and dad?”

Zverev shared a humorous yet insightful reflection on his upbringing. Both sons trained with their father, Alexander Mikhailovich Zverev, through their formative years. However, Alex reveals that Zverev Sr was much stricter with his older brother than him, “The reason my relationship with my father works so well, still as a coach and companion in tennis, is because he had Mischa before and that strictness helped him a lot.” he explained.

Being the firstborn, Mischa really felt the heat from their dad’s intense training methods, which were all about timed drills and strict repetitions. A classic Soviet-style coaching if you will. On the flip side, Alexander had a different experience. His upbringing was more balanced, allowing him to explore his potential without the same weight of expectations, he added, “It was funny, I must say, because Dad was much stricter with you. That’s how it is.” 

But there was a twist, while their father was lenient with Alexander, their mother, Irina, also a former professional player, was not. “Dad was also out and about with you a lot more. He often went to tournaments with you when I was growing up and I would say, Mom was the stricter one with me.” And while both players experienced different sides of their caregivers. Clearly, they did something right.

During his time Mischa peaked in his career in 2017. Reaching a career highest of 25th rank before taking a break from the sport in 2021. Alexander continues to play today. Even though his season this year has been a little turbulent.

Alexander opens up about his struggles with health this season

After the 2024 Laver Cup, Zverev was hospitalized due to lung inflammation, causing him to withdraw from the China Open. Despite returning for the Shanghai Masters, he expressed fatigue during a press conference before the tournament, stating, “I still feel like I’m perhaps a little more tired than usual. But either I’m ending my season now – or I’m playing as well as I can.”

Despite his condition, he took up the challenge on the court. He shared that his doctors assured him that playing won’t hinder his recovery. “It’s nothing that will delay the recovery or will make it worse if I play,” Zverev explained. “That’s why I’m here, and I’m happy to give my 100 percent of what I have.”

After successfully defeating Mattia Bullucci and Tallon Griekspoor in the first two rounds, fate was not on his side during his encounter with David Goffin, leading to an early exit from the tournament. Zverev aims to finish the season strong, targeting a spot in the year-end top two of the ATP rankings. Despite the challenges, he’s ready to tackle his matches in Shanghai.