Revealed: Boris Becker's unusual advice for Alexander Zverev involving his model girlfriend after lacklustre French Open defeat to Novak Djokovic
Boris Becker offered an unusual piece of advice to fellow German Alexander Zverev on the heels of his quarter-final defeat to Novak Djokovic at this year's French Open.
The world No3 had enjoyed a relatively untroubled journey through the Roland-Garros draw, only taken beyond straight-sets wins in his second-round match against Jesper de Jong - and handed an extended break between matches when his fourth-round opponent Tallon Griekspoor retired in the second set.
But Zverev had a more challenging time against the Serbian serial champion on Wednesday night, with the pair meeting for the first time since their abortive Australian Open semi-final ended prematurely when the 24-time Grand Slam champion withdrew due to injury.
The 28-year-old claimed a cagey first set 6-4, but quickly disintegrated to allow the older player a shot at a historic 25th majors title with his 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 win.
The quarter-final exit comes on the heels of a tricky post-Melbourne run for the German star, which has seen him book a number of unedifying first-round exits at Masters tournaments on clay.
In the midst of his 2025 dip in form, Becker had a remedy for his compatriot - albeit one that Zverev might be loath to accept.
'He no longer wants to play every week, but his family pushes him,' the six-time Grand Slam champion assessed, via Telegraf.rs.
'Father (Alexander Snr, former player and his coach) wanted to play all the time, brother (Misha, another former player) too.
'And Sascha has to learn to put an end to it, to go on vacation, spend time with his daughter, his girlfriend Sophia (Thomalla), to get away from tennis.
'Otherwise, it will burn out, it will become "ballaballa".'
'Ballaballa' is a largely untranslatable German phrase which suggests a nonsensical plan.
Zverev may wish to heed Becker's words and spend more time with Thomalla, who he has been in a relationship with since 2021.
The 35-year-old German actress and model often travels with her partner, but presenting and brand commitments also keep her tethered to their home country.
But Thomalla makes sure to travel with the world No3 to the major tournament, often sharing their journeys together on social media.
As well as broadcasting, the influencer is often spotted at exotic beachside locations
In January ahead of the Australian Open, the influencer shed light on the player's bizarre nighttime routine, revealing that every time Zverev goes to bed he 'goes to the toilet three times, and then back to bed, back and forth like that.
'I get the urge to cry every night and think to myself: now, just come to bed.' Thomalla added.
The pair also went briefly viral during the tournament Down Under when locker room cameras captured the pair celebrating the player's win with an elaborate customised handshake.
But the tournament also saw Zverev heckled by a member of the crowd during the trophy presentation after the final where he finished runner-up.
A woman repeatedly shouted: 'Australia believes Olya and Brenda' before being removed by the crowd, in reference to two cases of domestic assault that Zverev had been accused of.
In 2020 Olya Sharypova, a former girlfriend of Zverev, posted on Instagram accusing him of assaulting her multiple times, allegations she expanded upon in interviews.
Sharypova did not go to the police but the ATP instituted a 15-month, independent investigation. In 2023 it was announced that Zverev would face no punishment as there was insufficient evidence to support Sharypova's claims.
Before dating Thomalla, Zverev was in a relationship with Brenda Patea, who accused him in 2023 of domestic abuse in 2020.
In May last year, separate accusations of domestic abuse from Brenda Patea, the mother of Zverev's daughter, went to a German court.
The case was later settled, with the court telling the BBC: 'The decision is not a verdict, and it is not a decision about guilt or innocence.
'One decisive factor for the court decision was that the witness has expressed her wish to end the trial. The defendant agreed to the termination of the case.'
When asked about Sunday's protestor, Zverev said: 'I believe there are no more accusations. There haven't been for, what, nine months now.
'Good for her. I think she was the only one in the stadium who believed anything in that moment. If that's the case, good for her.
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