“I felt so bad” – Alexander Zverev opens up about how he couldn’t bring himself to beat older brother Mischa during Houston clash
Alexander Zverev, now world No. 3, opened up about a deeply personal moment from his early career when he couldn’t bring himself to defeat his older brother, Mischa Zverev, in a qualifying match at the 2014 US Men’s Clay Court Championships in Houston. Speaking on the Nothing Major Podcast with former ATP players John Isner, Sam Querrey, and Steve Johnson on August 2, 2025, Zverev recounted the intense three-hour match, saying, “We played for like, three hours, and then it was like 3-2 in the third set. I think I was up 3-2 in the third set with a break, and I felt so bad that I pulled out. Yeah, I pulled out, I couldn’t beat him. I just couldn’t do it.”
At 16 years old, Zverev was an emerging talent facing his 26-year-old brother, then ranked around No. 100, in a high-stakes qualifier for a main-draw spot. The emotional weight of potentially outshining Mischa, who had been the family’s breadwinner during lean years, overwhelmed Zverev. He retired from the match, allowing Mischa to advance. The encounter isn’t listed in their official ATP head-to-head, as it was a qualifying match, but it marked a pivotal moment in their sibling dynamic.
The Zverev brothers, coached by their father, Alexander Sr., share a close bond, with Mischa, a former world No. 25, now part of Alexander’s team. Their only main-draw meeting came at the 2018 Citi Open, where Alexander won 6-3, 7-5, followed by a heartfelt embrace, as reported by AP News. Mischa, emotional at the coin toss, fought tears, saying, “I was proud. It just finally came true.” Their contrasting styles—Alexander’s baseline power versus Mischa’s serve-and-volley—made the matchup unique, but Alexander’s 2025 reflections reveal the emotional complexity of their rivalry.
Zverev’s candid admission, amid his 500th ATP win in Toronto and training with Toni Nadal, underscores his growth from a teenager grappling with familial loyalty to a Grand Slam contender. The Houston moment, though a decade old, highlights the human side of his journey, where love for his brother trumped competitive drive.
