Alexander Zverev's first Grand Slam title has brought renewed attention to one of the most prominent figures in his life off the court.
On Sunday, June 7, the German tennis star defeated Flavio Cobolli in five sets to win the 2026 French Open, capturing his first major title. After a long wait for Zverev, interest in Paris has once again risen for Sofia Thomalla, a German model, TV presenter, businesswoman, and longtime partner who has been a part of his public life for many years.
People reported that Thomalla and Zverev have been dating since 2020. She supported him at tournaments and starred with him in a Netflix tennis documentary. «Break Point» and built her own career in the German entertainment and business industries.
Thomalla built her career in the German entertainment industry.
Image courtesy of Victor Welter/Shutterstock.
Thomalla was born in East Berlin on October 6, 1989. Her parents, Simone Thomalla and André Vetters, are both reportedly actors, providing her with an early connection to the entertainment industry.
She grew up in several German cities, including Berlin, Cologne, Kleinmachnow, and Gelsenkirchen. Her career subsequently expanded into modeling, acting, television presenting, and program hosting.
Tomalla hosted the German version of the show "« Are You The One?» , a dating format first aired in the US on MTV. Her Instagram profile also lists her as a moderator, investor, owner of Hardkorn Spirits, and a host affiliated with RTL and RTL+.
She supported Zverev at the most important moments of his tennis career.
Thomalla has appeared in the stands numerous times during Zverev's matches. It was reported that she watched his victory at the ATP Paris Masters in November 2024 and often cheered for him at tournaments.
The couple also attracted attention at the 2025 Australian Open, when cameras captured their playful, secret handshake before one of its matches. Zverev later joked that the moment represented "the coolest version of the German language.".
Zverev has spoken about what Thomalla brings to his life during competitions. In a 2021 interview with a German tennis magazine, he said she gives him peace and confidence, adding that he plays exceptionally well when she's by his side.
Netflix gave fans a closer look at their relationship.
Thomalla starred in the second season of the series «The Turning Point» on Netflix, dedicated to Zverev's return from a serious ankle injury suffered at the 2022 French Open.
Her appearance gave viewers a glimpse into Zverev's personal life beyond tournament results. People noted one amusing moment in the series, when Thomalla poked fun at him for being almost always late.
The documentary also showed her one of the defining stages of his career: the long recovery from the injury that caused him to lose to Rafael Nadal in the 2022 Roland-Garros semifinals.
Her past relationships have also attracted public attention.
Image courtesy of Eugene Powers/Shutterstock.
Before her relationship with Zverev, Thomalla had already featured in international celebrity media. People reported on her romance with musician Gavin Rossdale in 2017, following his split from Gwen Stefani.
Rossdale and Thomalla later officially confirmed their relationship on Instagram. According to the publication, they dated for just over a year before splitting.
Thomalla was previously married to Norwegian singer Andy LaPlegua. According to People magazine, they married in March 2016 and announced their divorce in May 2017.
Zverev's public image has come under heavy criticism.
Image courtesy of Victor Welter/Shutterstock.
The People article also noted that Zverev faced accusations of domestic violence from two former partners during his relationship with Thomalla. Zverev denies these allegations.
The ATP closed its investigation into allegations brought by ex-girlfriend Olga Sharypova in 2023 without taking disciplinary action. In a separate case, former partner Brenda Patea accused Zverev of causing bodily harm during an argument in 2020, and People, citing ESPN, reported that the case was settled in 2024.
These details remain part of the public domain about Zverev. They also explain why coverage of his personal life has more legal and reputational context than the standard athlete profile.
Zverev won his first Grand Slam title in Paris.
The Associated Press reported that Zverev defeated Cobolli 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-1 in the French Open final. The victory marked his fourth Grand Slam final and earned him a title that had eluded him for years.
Reuters reported that the victory made Zverev the first German to win a major title since Boris Becker won the Australian Open more than 30 years ago.
For Thomalla, the renewed attention stems from both Zverev's greatest achievement in tennis and her own fame. She spent years building a media career, hosting television shows, launching business ventures, and maintaining a prominent celebrity presence.
Zverev's victory at the French Open gives international readers a new reason to turn to the woman who stood by his side through injuries, finals, documentaries, tournament awards ceremonies, and the long wait for his first Grand Slam title.