Alexander Mikhailovich Zverev[1] (Russian: Александр Михайлович Зверев, born 22 January 1960) is a former professional tennis player from Russia who competed for the Soviet Union.[2]

Alexander Mikhailovich Zverev Sr.
Country (sports) Soviet Union
ResidenceHamburg, Germany
Born (1960-01-22) 22 January 1960 (age 64)[note 1]
Sochi, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
PlaysRight-handed
Singles
Career record3–16
Career titles0
Highest rankingNo. 175 (18 March 1985)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open1R (1985)
Wimbledon1R (1986)
Doubles
Career record4–4
Career titles0
Highest rankingNo. 307 (18 March 1985)
Mixed doubles
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
French Open1R (1986)
Medal record
Summer Universiade
Gold medal – first place 1985 Kobe Singles
Gold medal – first place 1985 Kobe Doubles
Bronze medal – third place 1983 Edmonton Singles
Friendship Games
Gold medal – first place 1984 Singles
Silver medal – second place 1984 doubles
Goodwill Games
Gold medal – first place 1986 Moscow Doubles

Career

edit

In 1979, he made his first appearance for the Soviet Davis Cup team.

Zverev was a bronze medalist in the men's singles event at the 1983 Summer Universiade and won a singles gold medal at the Friendship Games, which were held in 1984. He did better than two years earlier at the 1985 Summer Universiade, winning both the singles gold medal and the doubles gold medal, partnering Sergi Leonyuk, with whom he was also a gold medalist in the 1986 Goodwill Games.[3]

He appeared in three Grand Slam tournaments during his career.[4] In the 1985 Australian Open he qualified for the main draw and was beaten in the opening round by Tim Wilkison.[4] Again playing as a qualifier, Zverev met Tim Mayotte in the first round of the 1986 Wimbledon Championships and was defeated in straight sets.[4] As a mixed doubles player he took part in the 1986 French Open with Svetlana Cherneva.[4]

Zverev played mostly on the Challenger circuit, where he had victories over two top 50 players, Andrei Chesnokov and Jan Gunnarsson. He did however make the second round of the 1985 Geneva Open, a Grand Prix tournament.

He played his final Davis Cup tie in 1987 and retired having taken part in 36 rubbers, from which he won 18. One of those was a doubles win over the Czechoslovak pairing of Libor Pimek and Tomáš Šmíd, the latter ranked number one in the world for doubles at the time.[5] Three time Soviet champion in men's singles and 4 time winner in men's doubles.[6]

Personal life

edit

In 1991, Zverev and his wife, professional tennis player Irina Zvereva, relocated to Germany.[7] They are parents to tennis players Alexander and Mischa who both represent Germany on the ATP Tour.[8]

Notes

edit
  1. ^ The Davis Cup and ITF websites give his birthdate as 22 June 1962, however in a News and Courier article from 1986 entitled "Charleston Tennis Classic Offers Incentive For USTA Circuit Field"[permanent dead link], he is referred to as a 26-year-old, so this biography uses his birthdate listed on the ATP website

References

edit
  1. ^ "Familienbande: Auf den Spuren der Zverevs". Tennis Magazin (in German). 19 November 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  2. ^ "ITF Pro Circuit Profile". Archived from the original on 2018-07-18. Retrieved 2012-04-12.
  3. ^ "1986 Goodwill Games Results". Archived from the original on 2005-02-18. Retrieved 2012-04-12.
  4. ^ a b c d ATP World Tour Profile
  5. ^ Davis Cup Profile
  6. ^ "Александр Зверев: "Миша и Саша стали европейцами, но говорят по-русски"". 27 September 2016.
  7. ^ Irina Zvereva WTF Profile
  8. ^ "Alexander Zverev Jr. ITF Profile". Archived from the original on 2014-07-25. Retrieved 2012-04-12.