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Ishani Sarkar

German tennis star Alexander Zverev just pulled off an epic first-round win at the 2026 US Open. The top seed beat Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7), 7-5, 6-4 in a match that lasted four hours and 53 minutes, finishing at 1:55 am on Wednesday in New York.
“I’m just happy I won,” the French Open title holder said in a post-match interview with the ATP Tour. “Incredible battle. A lot of ups and downs. Nearly five hours for a first round. I think this is the longest first-round match I’ve ever played in my life.”

Zverev, who reached the Wimbledon final in July, came close to winning his first US Open men’s singles title in 2020, but ultimately lost to Dominic Thiem. “I still feel like I should have won in 2020, that doesn’t change,” he said at a press conference last week. “I feel like I’m one of the 128 players that are favourites in the draw,” he added.

Through his ups and downs, the 29-year-old star athlete has had one familiar face in his player’s box: his girlfriend of over five years, Sophia Thomalla.
Here’s everything you need to know about her.
What is Sophia Thomalla’s background?

Sophia Thomalla was born in East Berlin on October 6, 1989, to actor parents Simone Thomalla and André Vetters, who separated in 1995. She spent her early childhood in Berlin before relocating to Cologne and Kleinmachnow with her mother. Known for her striking body art, Thomalla began getting tattooed at a young age – with one statement piece featuring the name and birth date of actor Sven Martinek, who dated her mother in the late 1990s, per German tabloid Klatsch-Tratsch.
She’s a TV personality

Thomalla followed her parents into showbiz and established herself as an entertainer. She studied at the Konstantin School of Drama in Bochum and is best known for hosting Germany’s adaptation of the popular dating show Are You the One?. She won the German version of the reality series Let’s Dance in 2010 and has appeared in German television shows like Commissario Laurenti, Der Bergdoktor, and Eine wie Keine. Thomalla also enjoys kickboxing, owns the liquor brand Hardkorn Spirits, and is an ambassador for and shareholder in the construction-tech company Schüttflix.
Who else has Sophia Thomalla dated?

Thomalla’s famous exes include Rammstein frontman Till Lindemann, for whom she has multiple tattoos. The 36-year-old also dated English musician Gavin Rossdale, the lead singer of Bush, and was married to Norwegian singer Andy LaPlegua, founder of the band Icon of Coil. Before dating Zverev, she was linked to German footballer Loris Karius – the former Liverpool goalkeeper who now plays for FC Schalke 04.
Thomalla and Zverev began dating in 2020. “Sophia is someone who gives me peace and security. I play extremely well with her behind me,” the Hamburg-born tennis star told Tennis Magazin. Despite domestic abuse allegations made against Zverev by his former partners Olya Sharypova and Brenda Patea – which he has denied – Thomalla has remained steadfast in her support.


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Meet Sophia Thomalla, TV star and girlfriend of US Open hopeful Alexander Zverev

Alexander Zverev and Sophia Thomalla have been dating since 2020. Photos: @sophiathomalla/Instagram

Alexander Zverev speaks during a press conference ahead of the US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 28. Photo: Getty Images/AFP

Alexander Zverev reacts at the Cincinnati Open on August 19. Photo: Getty Images/AFP

Sophia Thomalla is the founder and owner of Hardkorn Spirits. Photo: @sophiathomalla/Instagram

Sophia Thomalla is the host of the German adaptation of Are You the One? Photo: @sophiathomalla/Instagram

Alexander Zverev and Sophia Thomalla at an event for the tennis star’s foundation in June. Photo: @sophiathomalla/Instagram

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Judy Ogle (right) began archiving Dolly Parton’s costumes and memorabilia in the 1970s. Photo: @partonnews/Instagram

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Despite domestic abuse allegations against the reigning French Open champion by exes Olya Sharypova and Brenda Patea, Thomalla has remained steadfastly supportive


Despite domestic abuse allegations against the reigning French Open champion by exes Olya Sharypova and Brenda Patea, Thomalla has remained steadfastly supportive.


Meet Sophia Thomalla, TV star and girlfriend of US Open hopeful Alexander Zverev

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Despite domestic abuse allegations against the reigning French Open champion by exes Olya Sharypova and Brenda Patea, Thomalla has remained steadfastly supportive

Despite domestic abuse allegations against the reigning French Open champion by exes Olya Sharypova and Brenda Patea, Thomalla has remained steadfastly supportive