NEED TO KNOW
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Alexander has one brother, Mischa Zverev, who was also a professional tennis player
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Mischa, once ranked No. 25, credited Alexander’s encouragement for helping him overcome injuries
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He retired from the sport in 2023 and now works as Alexander’s coach, manager and hitting partner
Alexander Zverev‘s brother Mischa Zverev has supported him throughout his professional tennis career all the way to the 2026 US Open men’s semifinals.
“In a way, luckily, me and my brother were 10 years apart, so there was never really a rivalry between us,” the Grand Slam champion told reporters ahead of the tournament in August 2026. “He always wanted the best for me; I always wanted the best for him.”
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The two men were raised in Germany by their parents, Irina and Alexander Zverev Sr., who are also tennis pros. After Mischa retired from the sport in 2023, he joined his brother’s team as one of his managers, coaches and hitting partners, per the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP). He’s a constant presence on the court, including when Alexander won the French Open men’s singles title in June 2026.
Here’s everything to know about Alexander Zverev’s older brother, Mischa Zverev.
Mischa was born in Russia
The Zverev Family
Credit: Nadine Rupp/Bongarts/Getty
Unlike Alexander, Mischa was born in Moscow, according to the US Open and his ATP bio. The family immigrated to Germany in 1991, which is where his younger brother was born in 1997.
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Alexander Sr. told the ATP in February 2025 that they “never had major difficulties or problems” with the transition and that it helped them “learn better German. Mischa is fluent in German, Russian and English.
He started playing tennis when he was 2
According to his ATP bio, Mischa started playing tennis when he was just 2 years old after admiring his father’s game. Alexander Sr. and Irina coached both of the boys when they were young, and though they were naturally competitive with one another, it never became an issue on the court.
“They competed in everything; computer games, basketball, cards, anything. Whatever they played among themselves, but not in tennis,” their father recalled to the ATP, noting that both of his sons had a tendency to extend practice as long as possible.
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“Mischa could not end practice unless the last point was perfect,” Alexander Sr. said. “He always wanted to play very well [until] the last point, the last shot, and sometimes it lasted for 20-30 minutes. [Alexander’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.’ “
Mischa almost quit the sport in 2015 but was inspired by Alexander to stay
Mischa Zverev of Russia during the 2011 Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships
Credit: Michael Regan/Getty
For years, Mischa enjoyed a successful tennis career, once ranking No. 45 in the world and competing in major tournaments like the 2009 Italian Open. However, after a string of injuries involving his wrist, back, knees and ribs, he fell to No. 1,067 and almost walked away from the game entirely in 2015, per the ATP and his US Open bio.
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“There’s certain days when you can’t deal with all the bad news that you receive from your doctor or the lack of success you have on the courts,” Mischa said during an October 2016 interview on Sports Illustrated’s Beyond the Baseline podcast, adding that it was his then-19-year-old brother who convinced him to keep going. “Everybody says, ‘Oh, you helped your brother.’ I’m like, no … he helped me too.”
After listening to Alexander’s “positive energy,” Mischa stuck with tennis and eventually ranked No. 25 in the world. He played in the 2016 Shanghai Masters and beat Andy Murray at the 2017 Australian Open.
He retired in 2023 and became his brother’s manager
After a decades-long career, Mischa retired from professional tennis in 2023, per the ATP. In addition to working as a commentator for Eurosport, he also “plays a big role” on Alexander’s team as one of his coaches, managers and hitting partners, according to their father, who says his support extends well beyond the game.
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“Mischa also helps [Alexander] in other matters, relating to managing his media obligations, sponsors, projects outside of tennis,” Alexander Sr. told the ATP. “In general, everything that happens in life or if he needs help, he helps him as his brother.”
Mischa has a son with his wife, Evgenia
Mischa Zverev and his wife Evgenia Zverev attend a Charity Dinner on December 04, 2024 in Munich, Germany
Credit: Andreas Rentz/Getty
In 2018, Mischa married his wife, Evgenia Zverev, according to the ATP. The couple share a son, Mischa Jr. At the time, Alexander acknowledged that he and his brother were at different stages in their lives, as they no longer shared an apartment.
“We’re a little bit going our own ways, but we’re still very close,” Alexander told The Washington Post in August 2018. “It’s a new part of his life. He will always still be there, but obviously he’s going to have his own family now. I’ve got to respect that.”
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