As the first round of the Australian Open got underway, Alexander Zverev found himself facing an unexpected opening-round challenge against Gabriel Diallo. The Canadian struck first, snatching the opening set in a tiebreak, 7-6(1). However, the world No. 3 quickly asserted his authority, powering through the next three sets 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 to seal the win and avoid an early upset. What followed, though, was something Zverev did not see coming.

The real entertainment arrived during the post-match interview, when Zverev noticed a sign in the crowd that read, “Marry me, Sascha.” The German initially blushed before playfully demanding proof of commitment from his admirer.

“Where’s the ring, man? I am believing myself. I still want a ring otherwise… [I am] not that cheap,” he said during the interview. He then turned to the interviewer and poked fun at the interruption, adding, “We are incapable of doing one on court interview which is just normal are we?”

The moment was reminiscent of several past on-court interviews that have been disrupted by crowd interjections. Just last year, following his Australian Open final against Jannik Sinner, Zverev’s post-match interview was similarly interrupted by a heckler in attendance.

Despite these occasional distractions, one constant presence at Zverev’s matches has been his girlfriend, Sophia Thomalla.

Who is ‘Sascha’ Zverev dating?

The German tennis star is currently dating actress, model, and television presenter Sophia Thomalla. The couple have been together since 2020 and are considered one of Germany’s most high-profile sporting partnerships. They share a seven-year age gap, something Thomalla has previously said does not concern her.

Zverev has openly spoken about the importance of Thomalla’s support in his career. “I think for tennis players it is always very important who you have next to you. Sophia is someone who gives me peace and security,” Zverev told a German tennis magazine in 2021.

“I play extremely well with her behind me and I hope that will continue to be the case next year and maybe even better. I haven’t achieved all of my goals yet.”

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Thomalla has built a successful career of her own in modeling, acting, and television presenting. She is also the daughter of renowned German actress Simone Thomalla. A familiar face in the stands during Zverev’s matches, she has frequently spoken about the positive influence their relationship has had on his career.

Her support is not limited to the stands alone. Thomalla often celebrates Zverev’s achievements on social media, a trend that continued in 2024 after he won the ATP Masters in Paris. Sharing a photo of Zverev holding the tree-shaped trophy, she joked, “Finally a tree at home that doesn’t die. Congrats.”

Although Thomalla was not present in the stands at Melbourne Park for the first round, fans can certainly expect her to make an appearance at Zverev’s upcoming matches.