Alexander Zverev secured a 3:1 victory for Germany over Croatia in the Davis Cup qualifiers in Halle, Westfalen, where a family outing featuring Sophia Thomalla and five-year-old daughter Mayla offered a lighter backdrop to the competitive tennis action.
Davis Cup Action and Team Germany’s Path to Bologna
Playing his first home match in the competition since 2023, the two-time Grand Slam champion opened the qualifying tie by defeating Matej Dodig 6:4, 7:6. Zverev followed up on Sunday with a 6:2, 6:4 win against Dino Prizmic. Reflecting on the quick turnaround following his title run in New York, Zverev noted that playing immediately after major tournaments suits his rhythm better than taking extended weeks off at home.
Daniel Altmaier dropped his opening match against Prizmic 4:6, 3:6, leaving the score tied after the first day. However, the German duo of Kevin Krawietz and Tim Pütz secured a 7:5, 6:2 doubles victory over Mate Pavic and Nikola Mektic, sealing the 3:1 overall win and sending the DTB team to the November finals in Bologna.
Despite the successful outcome, Zverev voiced strong criticism of the modern tournament structure. Calling the current format “absoluter Mist” and characterizing it as “großer Mist,” he urged the world governing body to reconsider the traditional home-and-away format rather than the centralized group stage setup.
Family Moments on the Tribunes in Halle
Away from the court, the venue in Westfalen hosted relaxed family scenes as Zverev’s daughter Mayla accompanied her father. Sitting between Sophia Thomalla and Zverev’s mother, Irina, the five-year-old drew attention during the opening set by resting her head on Thomalla’s lap while watching content on a tablet device.
Zverev acknowledged the family dynamics with a laugh, noting that his mother—who typically skips watching his singles matches out of nervousness—made an exception because his daughter wanted to attend. Official team surroundings highlighted the close relationship between Thomalla and Mayla, who frequently accompanies her father to select international tournaments, including a trip to Acapulco earlier in the year.
Official Honors and Next Steps
During the weekend proceedings in Halle, DTB President Dietloff von Arnim and Sportstaatsminister Ronny Rauhe formally honored Zverev for his recent Grand Slam triumph at the US Open, presenting him with a commemorative image and a donation for the Alexander-Zverev-Stiftung, which supports children with diabetes.
With the Davis Cup qualifying tie successfully concluded, Zverev shifts his schedule immediately toward international competition, heading to London for the Laver Cup before traveling onward to tournaments in Asia.
