Alexander Zverev is hoping to make a deep run at the Australian Open this month, and his older girlfriend Sophia Thomalla will be hoping he goes far too.

Alexander Zverev and Sophia Thomalla have spoken about their relationship (Image: Getty)

Tennis star Alexander Zverev and his partner Sophia Thomalla have already made it clear that they are unfazed by the criticism surrounding their age gap as he gears up for the Australian Open this month. The German ace is seeking to win his first Grand Slam in Melbourne, having reached the semi-finals last year.

No.2 seed Zverev will hope to end his wait for a major title, and will likely be cheered on by former Playboy model-turned-actor Thomalla in his corner. The celebrity couple originally got together via a mutual friend in 2020, choosing to take their relationship public in 2021, which swiftly attracted attention due to their age difference.

Zverev, 27, is seven-and-a-half years younger than Thomalla, 35, who was once married to Norwegian singer Andy LaPlegua and previously dated musician Gavin McGregor as well as ex-Liverpool footballer Loris Karius. However, both Zverev and Thomalla have insisted that they do not let the attention affect their relationship.

In an interview with broadcaster RTL, Thomalla said: “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.”

Echoing his partner, Zverev explained the supportive role that Thomalla had played in terms of his career. “I think for tennis players it is always very important who you have next to you,” Zverev said. “Sophia is someone who gives me peace and security.

“We have been together for almost three years now. Everything is wonderful, everything is going well. We are happy that we are together.”

Sophia Thomalla will likely be in Melbourne during the Australian Open (Image: Getty)

Their busy lifestyles have meant that funding a balance in the relationship hasn’t always been easy. Thomalla, once dubbed the world’s third sexiest woman by FHM, shared in a documentary: “We don’t have a simple life together. Alex, with the incredible amount of sports he has and the continuity he has to go through again and again – and my life is anything but continuous. It’s not 24/7 red roses now.”

It does not seem having children will be in the couple’s immediate future, as Thomalla told BILD: “We don’t lead a normal life. We get up very early, we’re on the go a lot. You don’t have a base to hold on to. Accordingly, we don’t have any holidays, but are mostly in hotels.”

The Australian Open, which gets underway on January 12, offers Zverev an opportunity to finally win a major title, and he will discover his first opponent once the draw is made on Thursday. Zverev recently withdrew from the United Cup due to injury but delivered a confident prediction after touching down in Australia. “There’s going to be a new men’s champion,” he declared.