Saf Strikes First 💪 Safiullin takes the first set over Zverev 6-3! #RolexShanghaiMasters
Alexander Zverev shared a set of photos to hilariously greet his girlfriend on her birthday.
World No. 10 has the potential to have a great 2023 season after returning to the Tour following a significant part of the 2022 season off the courts due to a severe injury he sustained in the French Open semifinals against Rafael Nadal.
Zverev has achieved several good results in recent weeks, including titles at the Hamburg Open and Chengdu Open, as well as semifinals at Cincinnati and quarterfinals at the US Open. These results have helped him return to the top 10 after nearly a year.
Everything seems to be going well for 'Sascha,' both on and off the court, as he celebrated his girlfriend Sophia Thomalla's birthday. She is a German actress, model, and presenter who turned 33.
The former world No. 2 humorously referred to Thomalla as a "multitalented physio," displaying various credentials she has used at tournaments as a "physiotherapist." It's common for the partners of tennis players to be credited as members of their teams for logistical reasons.
"Sophia Thomalla: Physio Zverev," read the ID tag.
"Happy birthday to the multitalented physio, panda mom, and dog sitter. Lack of career options was never a problem, but I thought people should know the most important ones," he jokingly wrote.
The 26-year-old tennis player has publicly spoken about his relationship with Thomalla and how she has helped him discover a life beyond tennis. She has also credited their relationship.
"She gave me the chance to realize that there is much more out there than tennis," he said.
"I can talk to him about anything, and he also has an ear for it," Tomalla expressed.
Despite his recent good results, Zverev experienced a tough loss in the first round of the last Masters 1000 of the year at the Shanghai Open. The former world No. 10 was defeated 6-3, 6-1 by the world No. 50, Roman Safiulin.
The German player will compete in the Tokyo Open starting on October 16th, where he is the 4th seed. He aims to earn points ahead of the ATP Finals. Zverev currently ranks seventh in the Race, with good chances of qualifying for the tournament he won in 2018 and 2021.
Saf Strikes First 💪 Safiullin takes the first set over Zverev 6-3! #RolexShanghaiMasters