Alexander Zverev has been dating Sophia Thomalla since 2021, and the two have let slip details about their relationship over the years, including the Wimbledon tennis star’s bedroom habits
Tennis superstar Alexander Zverev has been dating German model, actress and television presenter Sophia Thomalla since 2021. The 35-year-old can often be seen cheering on Olympic gold medallist Zverev, 28, courtside.
While Germany’s Zverev hasn’t had much luck in Grand Slam finals, playing second fiddle at the US Open, French Open and Australian Open in recent times, he has an ever-present voice of support in the form of his long-term girlfriend, Thomalla.
The former German Playboy model met Zverev through a mutual friend and hit it off right away. The pair, who are separated in age by almost eight years, have been an item for some time, and Thomalla will likely soon head to SW19 to cheer on her beau once more.
Zverev hasn’t enjoyed the best of runs at Wimbledon. He has never made it further than the fourth round, reaching this stage three times but falling just short of a quarter-final berth. However, he arrives in west London on the back of a run to the Australian Open final in January.
Speaking in 2021, the German touched on the support system that enables him to perform at his best, and cited girlfriend Thomalla as someone who backs him to the bitter end.
“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 Tennis Magazin in December 2021. “I play extremely well with her behind me and I hope that will continue to be the case.”
Thomalla has been involved in some high-profile relationships in the past and was married to Norwegian singer Andy LaPlegua from 2016 until 2017.
She later dated former Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius, who met the model during his loan spell with Turkish side Besiktas from 2018 until 2020. The 35-year-old is known for several roles across German TV shows, particularly the local adaptation of MTV’s dating game show, ‘Are You the One?’
Despite being seven years younger than her partner, Thomalla insists that this fact isn’t something that is dwelt on, as she told RTL: “I don’t think anything of it. It doesn’t really matter to me, and it was clear to me from the start that people are suspicious. Even if it had only lasted a month, it wouldn’t have mattered to me.”
Thomalla often takes to social media in support of Zverev, posting pictures of the two for her 1.4million Instagram followers. When Zverev claimed an ATP 500 title in Munich this April, she wrote next to a photo of her partner and his new trophy: “All the support paid off.”
On his way to the final in Melbourne earlier this year, the pair’s unique bond was on full display when the secret handshake that they do before matches was picked up on by commentator Jim Courier.
After Zverev’s quarter-final win against American Tommy Paul, Courier spoke to the German and replayed his and his girlfriend’s routine on the big screen, prompting the 28-year-old to reply: “What are you doing to me?
“I just played for four hours… I mean, we have been together for three and a half years now. Look, man, you got to understand we are German, this is the coolest version of German that you can be. This is the top of German coolness; it does not go any further than that. We did it, we did it well.”
However, one of the two-time ATP Tour Finals winner’s superstitions isn’t so welcomed by his other half. Thomalla touched on Zverev’s bedroom habits and revealed: “Superstition is a sign of weakness.
“Because you cling to certain rituals just because you don’t have faith in yourself. Every evening, before he goes to bed, he goes to the toilet three times, and then back to bed.
“Back and forth like that. And then the chains are put in place. I get the urge to cry every night and think to myself: Now, just come to bed!”
Yet, while he may drive her crazy sometimes, a social media post from 2022 details the couple’s loved-up state. Thomalla posted on Instagram in honour of her partner’s charity: “Alex Zverev, you are beautiful inside and out. I couldn’t be prouder of you.”
