Sascha Zverev, it turns out, was genetically engineered for tennis in a laboratory cunningly disguised as a loving family. Born in 1997 to Alexander and Irina—both professional tennis players and presumably quite good at it—Sascha picked up his first racket at the age of three, a decision he might later come to blame for the state of his knees. With an older brother, Mischa, also whacking tennis balls professionally, it seems the Zverevs ran their household less like a family and more like a high-performance tennis academy with occasional dinners.
By 19, Sascha had collected his first ATP title, much like most teenagers collect regrettable tattoos. He went on to win Olympic gold in Tokyo in 2021, proving that hard work, focus and the ability to hit a small yellow ball very hard can indeed take you places. Known for his thunderous serves and a backhand that has frightened many a tennis ball, Sascha also has a softer side—his golden retriever, Lövik, who presumably receives more love than his opponents do. Between overcoming injuries and teaching kids that dreams come true through practice and, ideally, fun, Sascha’s life serves as proof that with a little determination and a lot of tennis balls, you too can confuse the laws of physics on an international stage.
By 19, Sascha had collected his first ATP title, much like most teenagers collect regrettable tattoos. He went on to win Olympic gold in Tokyo in 2021, proving that hard work, focus and the ability to hit a small yellow ball very hard can indeed take you places. Known for his thunderous serves and a backhand that has frightened many a tennis ball, Sascha also has a softer side—his golden retriever, Lövik, who presumably receives more love than his opponents do. Between overcoming injuries and teaching kids that dreams come true through practice and, ideally, fun, Sascha’s life serves as proof that with a little determination and a lot of tennis balls, you too can confuse the laws of physics on an international stage.
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