Inside Alexander Zverev's relationship with famous girlfriend who has seven-year age gap

Tennis ace Alexander Zverev and his girlfriend, German model and TV star Sophia Thomalla, have been an item since 2021. The 35-year-old can be frequently seen supporting her Olympic champion beau, 28, from the stands.

Despite a string of near-misses in Grand Slam finals, including the US Open, French Open and Australian Open, Zverev can always count on the vocal support of his long-term partner, Thomalla. The couple, who share an almost eight-year age gap, were introduced by a mutual friend and quickly became inseparable, with Thomalla expected to be a familiar face in SW19, rooting for Zverev once again. His Wimbledon journey has been fraught with challenges, and he's yet to progress beyond the fourth round. Nonetheless, he heads to London buoyed by his Australian Open final appearance earlier this year.

Speaking in 2021, the German athlete discussed the support system that helps him perform at his best and mentioned his girlfriend as someone who supports him unconditionally. "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," Zverev told Tennis Magazin in December 2021. "I play extremely well with her behind me and I hope that will continue to be the case."

Thomalla has certainly been no stranger to the limelight with her series of high-profile romances, previously married to Norwegian singer Andy LaPlegua from 2016 until their split in 2017. The German model and actress, after her marriage ended, found love with the ex-Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius during his tenure at Besiktas, with the relationship lasting from 2018-2020. She is best known for her appearances on German television, including the adaptation of MTV's 'Are You the One?'

Despite a seven-year age gap with her current beau, Thomalla shrugs off any concerns, and confided to RTL: "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."

On Instagram, where she boasts 1.4 million followers, Thomalla is an avid supporter of Zverev, often sharing snapshots of their life together. Celebrating Zverev's ATP 500 victory in Munich last April, she proudly posted a picture captioned with: "All the support paid off." Their unique chemistry garnered attention during the Australian Open earlier this year, when commentator Jim Courier noted the couple's signature pre-match handshake. Following his quarter-final triumph, Zverev amusingly reacted to replayed footage of their intimate ritual, asking Courier: "What are you doing to me?

"I just played for four hours... I mean, we have been together for three and a half years now. Look, man, you got to understand we are German, this is the coolest version of German that you can be. This is the top of German coolness; it does not go any further than that. We did it, we did it well."

Zverev's partner also shed light on his unusual bedtime habits: "Superstition is a sign of weakness. Because you cling to certain rituals just because you don't have faith in yourself. Every evening, before he goes to bed, he goes to the toilet three times, and then back to bed. Back and forth like that. And then the chains are put in place. I get the urge to cry every night and think to myself: Now, just come to bed!"

Despite this quirk, Thomalla previously gushed about her partner on Instagram, saying in light of his charity work: "Alex Zverev, you are beautiful inside and out. I couldn't be prouder of you."