Alexander Zverev had some pretty funny moments during his post-match interview at the Australian Open, and he wasn’t holding back when it came to talking about his family.
The German star beat Learner Tien on Tuesday in a solid four-set match, 6-3, 6-7, 6-1, 7-6. He knew it’d be tough going in – Tien had just destroyed three-time Melbourne runner-up Daniil Medvedev in the previous round.
But Zverev’s serve was absolutely on fire. He didn’t get broken once during the entire match, which made all the difference against the hard-hitting American.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Zverev | 28 | 6,885 | 34 - 10 |
After the win, former pro Christopher Eubanks did the on-court interview. And naturally, he started asking about Zverev’s brother Mischa.
The Brother Question That Never Goes Away
Mischa’s probably best known for that stunning upset over Andy Murray at the 2017 Australian Open. He was this incredible volleyer during his career, which got Eubanks curious about some of the net play Zverev showed against Tien.
The No. 3 seed clearly gets this question a lot. Like, a lot.
"Every single on-court interview’s about him. I’m playing, I’m here. He used to play, he used to play ten years ago, he was good, we get it. He beat Andy Murray here, yay!"
You can hear the frustration mixed with humor there. Zverev’s out there winning matches at a Grand Slam, but everyone wants to talk about his retired brother.
But Eubanks wasn’t done with the family questions.
The Real Cost of Family Coaching
The two-time ATP Finals champion has been coached by his father for years. Mischa’s also part of the team now. So Eubanks wondered if they ever get sick of each other, traveling together constantly.
Zverev’s answer was perfect.
"I get sick of them, but they don’t get sick of me because I pay for everything."
That’s pretty brutally honest – and hilarious. When you’re the one footing the bills for hotels, flights, and everything else, the family dynamics probably shift a bit.
Some tennis fans think Zverev should shake things up. Maybe get a fresh coaching team, bring in outside voices. But he’s achieved some serious success with his family setup.
There’s something to be said for that closeness and trust, even if it means answering the same questions about Mischa in every interview.
Speaking of Family Coaching
Zverev’s not the only top player keeping things in the family these days.
Carlos Alcaraz just made a pretty surprising announcement about his own team. After splitting with longtime coach Juan Carlos Ferrero last month, everyone wondered who’d replace him.
Turns out, he’s going with his brother Alvaro.
The world No. 1 says Alvaro will take on a bigger role alongside existing co-coach Samuel Lopez. It’s all about trust and having someone who really gets him.
Which is interesting, because Alvaro’s main claim to fame until now was giving Carlos the world’s worst haircut at the US Open. Carlos ended up shaving almost everything off afterward.
Zero coaching experience, but hey – family knows family.
There’d been rumors about Roger Federer potentially stepping in, but he shut that down pretty quickly. Alcaraz is sticking with people he trusts completely.
The timing’s pretty crucial too. Alcaraz is just two wins away from completing the Career Grand Slam here in Melbourne.
And his semifinal opponent? That’d be Alexander Zverev, the guy who’s tired of talking about his brother but can’t seem to escape those questions.
Should make for an interesting match between two players who’ve bet big on keeping things in the family.
