As of: January 23, 2024, 8:05 a.m
By: Christoph Klaucke
Comments
Press
Split
Alexander Zverev is in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open.
After the victory he experiences an unpleasant surprise.
The tennis ace forgot his father's birthday.
Melbourne – “You have to turn your head off, think about the next shot and the next point,” said Alexander Zverev after his next marathon match at Eurosport.
This recipe for success led Germany's best tennis player to victory against the Briton Cameron Norrie after more than four hours - again in the match tiebreak, Zverev shivered his way into the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.
However, the total focus on the next rally caused an unpleasant surprise after the victory - the 26-year-old from Hamburg had simply forgotten his father's birthday.
Zverev forgets his father's birthday at the Australian Open - brother reveals secret
Zverev was caught on the wrong foot in the court interview after the match - he has his older brother Mischa Zverev to thank for this.
“Your brother let me in on a little secret beforehand: I think today is your father’s birthday,” says the moderator.
At that moment, the tennis ace notices his faux pas, grimaces with a mischievous grin and clutches his head.
“I think that’s a pretty good birthday present you gave your dad.
We should sing 'Happy Birthday' to your father.
What do you think, Sascha
(Russian name for Alexander; editor's note)
, you and all the fans?" Zverev is asked to sing.
The stunned Tokyo Olympic champion first has to collect himself.
Alexander Zverev is caught on the wrong foot after his round of 16 victory at the Australian Open.
© Eurosport/Instagram
Zverev experiences unpleasant surprise after victory: “I completely forgot about it”
“It’s good that you told me that at Margaret Court Arena after I won 7-6 in the fifth (set).
I completely forgot about it, I'm really very sorry," explains Zverev with a laugh and waves to his father Alexander Zverev Senior, who turned 63, in the stands.
He is also his trainer.
Zverev then fervently sings the famous birthday song.
The fans join in: “Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday, dear Dad, Happy Birthday to you”.
The spectators are happy and the senior is probably in a mild mood thanks to the victory.
My news
Ten years after Michael Schumacher's accident: Brother Ralf honors sister-in-law Corinnalesen
Incident at Zverev match: Suddenly it rains reading leaflets
Schweinsteiger, Neureuther, Björndalen: The most famous athlete couples
Odonkor's big coup: triple salary reading
Novak Djokovic: girlfriend, wife, children, family?
This is what we read about the Serbian tennis ace
Mourning for German gymnast: young hopeful dies unexpectedly
Zverev celebrates his father's birthday - Alcaraz is waiting in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open
Nevertheless, Zverev immediately received a scolding from his father.
“He said, ‘You idiot, you could have easily won in three sets.
Then we could have celebrated my birthday,'” Zverev later said.
“I’ll get something else,” he announced, even if his quarter-final entry in Melbourne was gift enough.
This is how Zverev and his family achieved a real highlight match against the Spanish superstar Carlos Alcaraz at the Australian Open.