The phenomenon of sibling success in professional tennis is well-documented. Think of the legendary Williams sisters. The dynamic Murray brothers. Or the iconic McEnroe duo, each supporting and pushing one another to greatness. Another powerhouse pair from Germany has emerged in recent years: Alexander Zverev and his older brother, Mischa Zverev.

While Sascha shines on the court, Mischa plays a pivotal role behind the scenes. Yes, by shaping his journey to success. And, recently, their father offered a rare glimpse into their extraordinary bond, revealing how deep their connection runs.

In a revealing conversation, their father and Sascha’s coach, Alexander Zverev Sr., shed light on the unwavering support that binds the brothers both on and off the court. In an interview featured in “ATP Coach Spotlight,” Alexander Zverev Sr., a coach and father of the current world No. 2, discussed the sibling rivalry between his sons Sascha and Mischa. They highlighted its role in fostering their competitive drive and remarkable achievements.

“There was competition between Mischa and Sascha, but not in tennis. They competed in everything; computer games, basketball, cards, anything. Whatever they played among themselves, but not in tennis. I would say that they helped each other more, they motivated each other more,” he added.

Former 25th seed, Mischa Zverev, a 4-time doubles champion, has been a driving force behind his younger brother Sascha’s success since retiring in 2023. How? The elder brother assumes various roles. It includes co-managing Sascha’s collaboration with Sergei Bubka and providing coaching during tournaments. Moreover, he manages critical off-court obligations such as media engagements, sponsorships, and business affairs.

He continued, “When Sascha was still a junior, still young, Mischa always practiced with him, gave advice on how to play with others, what shots should be used, how to train, everything. In turn, when Mischa was 27 years old, he had surgery on the wrist and somehow was not sure he would be able to play further, Sascha supported him in every possible way, motivated him all the time said. They played a doubles together too.” Wait, doubles?

The brothers from Germany have showcased their chemistry on the doubles court, securing several victories together. One standout moment came in 2019, in Acapulco, Mexico. Sascha and Mischa Zverev triumphed in the final, defeating Austin Krajicek and Artem Sitak after an intense 90-minute battle that ended in three sets 2-6, 7-6(4), 10-5. But their history-making tournament was even earlier. In 2017, when Alexander clinched the singles title in Montpellier, the duo claimed the doubles crown in the same tournament. This remarkable feat made them the “first brothers to sweep a tournament” since Andy and Jamie Murray in 2011.

Moreover, Mischa periodically demonstrated his support for his sibling. For example, during last year’s US Open quarter-final match against Taylor Fritz, he publicly offered commentary on his brother’s performance. “He knows what to do in difficult situations, and he’s capable of finding a way to beat his opponent, not necessarily with power. Sometimes with resistance, sometimes with tactics. That’s why he’s had great results in the past,” Mischa added.

While the Zverev siblings have inspired their German fan base, their father described the difficulties encountered during Sascha’s training, specifically his aversion to concluding practice sessions.

“I still want to train” Alexander Zverev’s Dad explains why Sascha used to cry after training sessions 

During the same interview, the coach also commented on Alexander Zverev’s training session, recounting an anecdote about his completion of the session. “Sascha’s relationship with training when he was very young was that it was very difficult for him to leave the court, he just started crying that he also wants to play more, ‘I still want to train.'” He continues to excel with those extra sessions put on the court. 

He continued, “Even now, already one of the leading players in the world, he sometimes ends a night session at half past eleven or midnight and asks the tournament organisers to let him play after the match for another 30-40 minutes.” 

This isn’t new to the tennis fraternity as, time and time again, the German ace has shared his opinion about his hunger for training. For instance, take his post-match interview at last year’s ATP Finals group stage match against Casper Ruud (7-6, 6-3) when he discussed the extra training after matches.

“As I said in Paris, it’s not about today, tomorrow, or the next match. I already want to improve certain aspects for next year. I want to develop my game so that I can compete with Alcaraz and Sinner. It’s as simple as that. They’re the two reference points at the moment. They’re the ones winning Grand Slams.” He’s right. Sinner and Alcaraz continue to dominate the tennis circuit with shades of a Federer vs Nadal rivalry 2.0.

Despite a challenging start to 2025, marked by defeat in the Australian Open final to Sinner, the German has resumed his winning ways in the Argentina Open. He secured victory in his Round of 16 matches against Dusan Lajovic. He will proceed to the quarter-final where he faces home favorite Francisco Cerundolo, who recently defeated his brother, Juan Manuel Cerundolo. Stay tuned with us for more updates on the world No. 2!