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The 2026 Australian Open is approaching its climax, with Alexander Zverev falling agonisingly short in an epic semi-final against Carlos Alcaraz. The pair battled it out in what was clocked as the longest semi-final in Australian Open history, with Alcaraz snatching victory from the jaws of defeat at the end of a thrilling fifth set.

The Spaniard went two sets up, but Zverev came roaring back to level the match up. The German then broke Alcaraz in the fifth and eventually served for the match. But Alcaraz sensationally broke back, before breaking Zverev again to clinch the final set 7-5.

At last year's event in Australia, Zverev reached the final, but lost to Jannik Sinner. The 28-year-old is yet to win a Grand Slam tournament, having lost in three major finals and seven major semi-finals.

Here, Mirror Sport explores Zverev's personal life away from the baseline, focusing on his relationship with actress and model Sophia Thomalla, which has raised a few eyebrows.

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The pair have been together since 2020, despite an age difference of more than seven years. Zverev is now 28, while Thomalla recently celebrated her 36th birthday. Since confirming their romance, they have appeared together at numerous high-profile events and frequently share updates with fans across social media platforms.

While Zverev's Instagram page largely centres on his tennis career, Thomalla often posts about both her professional projects and their time together. The couple also collaborate on joint posts, including a recent upload documenting their getaway to the Maldives. During the trip, they stayed at Soneva Fushi - a luxury resort set in shallow waters, where some villas even feature a water slide from the upper floor.

Accompanied by the caption 'Memories made', a video captured the duo enjoying the slide, with Zverev also squeezing in a spot of training. Their activities ranged from spikeball to dolphin-watching and snorkelling. The clip ended with a photo of them kissing on a scenic swing set surrounded by crystal-clear water.

Zverev has previously discussed how significant his partnership with Thomalla is to his success as a professional athlete. "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," he told a German tennis magazine in 2021. "I play extremely well with her behind me and I hope that will continue to be the case next year and maybe even better. I haven't achieved all of my goals yet."

Thomalla was born in Germany to actress Simone Thomalla and actor Andre Vetters, meaning a career in the spotlight was almost inevitable. She spent her childhood in Cologne, Kleinmachnow and Gelsenkirchen before forging her own path in modelling, acting and television presenting.

Among her career milestones is hosting the German version of the US dating show Are You the One?. Zverev, as one of the sport's biggest names, has amassed more than two million Instagram followers, while Thomalla boasts an impressive audience of over 1.4 million herself.

She is a regular presence in the stands at Zverev's matches, offering vocal support as he competes worldwide. That encouragement continues online, as seen in 2024 after Zverev triumphed at the ATP Masters in Paris. "Finally a tree at home that doesn't die. Congrats," she joked, sharing a photo of him alongside his tree-shaped trophy.

Thomalla has also applauded Zverev's charitable efforts through the Alexander Zverev Foundation, writing on Instagram: "@alexzverev123, you are beautiful inside and out. What you do for children with diabetes is incredible. I couldn't be prouder of you and your @alexanderzverevfoundation.

Addressing their age gap, Thomalla has made it clear it does not concern her. Speaking to broadcaster RTL, she said: "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."

Discussing their demanding schedules, she told BILD: "We don't lead a normal life. We get up very early, we're on the go a lot. You don't have a base to hold on to. Accordingly, we don't have any holidays, but are mostly in hotels."