The Biofile: Sascha Zverev

Alexander “Sascha” Zverev has tennis in his blood. Son of Alexander Sr., who represented the Soviet Union in Davis Cup, and younger brother of ATP World Tour professional Mischa, the 18-year-old German shares some of his tennis memories in this Biofile with Scoop Malinowski.

Born On: April 20, 1997 in Hamburg, Germany

First Tennis Memory: I’ve been told that I was like a year old and I was always taking a little tennis racquet and just playing with balls in the apartment. I guess that’s my first.

Tennis Inspirations: Roger Federer. And I also get inspired by other sports like Dwyane Wade for example inspires me a lot. The way he plays at his age and the way he has a family. And such a good father and manages to be one of the best basketball players in the world.

First Famous Player You Met Or Encountered: It was Roger Federer when I was about four years old – I believe in Hamburg in our hometown tournament. I was just somewhere in the players’ lounge. That’s my first time I remember meeting someone of the players.

Last Book Read: Probably a school book – you don’t read these days – you watch Netflix.

Favorite Sport Outside Tennis: Basketball.

Greatest Sports Moment: Well I actually have two. One of them was reaching semifinals of Hamburg last year. The other one was winning my first round at Wimbledon 9-7 in the fifth set (vs Teymuraz Gabashvili) which was (an) over four hour match where I really had all kinds of physical problems. I had cramps – I was getting sick – and I still managed to win that. That is where I’m kind of proud of myself as well.

Most Painful Moment: Losing to (David) Ferrer in the semi-final wasn’t very nice in Hamburg – love and one [smiles]. Probably the French Open junior final back in 2013 (to Christian Garin) when I was only sixteen years old. I really wanted to win that but unfortunately I didn’t. The worst experience of my career was playing my brother (Mischa). You have to win the point…but then you’re playing your brother and you don’t want to win.

Strangest Match: Actually this year in Miami. I played Sam Groth. I did not win one single point on his serve. Until the game of 6-5 30-love for him. And I broke him. I won four points straight. Then the whole match I won about twelve points on his serve. And I broke him twice. So I still have no idea how I won that match [smiles].

Three Athletes You Like To Watch & Follow: Roger Federer. Dwyane Wade. And Dirk Nowitzki.

Funniest Players Encountered: Oh there are a few – Gael Monfils. Marinko Matosevic. And I don’t know – there’s probably others.

Why Do You Love Playing Tennis: Because it’s one on one sport. You don’t get that in any other sport really. The closest you get is probably boxing. You still have your coaches and your team in your corner telling you what to do and stuff. I think tennis all depends on yourself. And that’s something fantastic about tennis.

Favorite Tournament(s): Hamburg, because it’s my hometown. And it’s one of the greatest tournaments out there.

People Qualities Most Admired: Just honesty. I don’t like fake people a lot.

Courtesy of Scoop Malinowski, tennis-prose.com. Scoop is the author of “Facing Federer” , “Facing Hewitt” and “Facing Nadal”, all available on Amazon.