While not quite the men's tennis equivalent of the Williams family, the Zverevs boast the mature-aged Mischa (age 29, ranked 50), who eliminated top seed Andy Murray from the Australian Open and on Tuesday plays the great Roger Federer, and wonderboy Sascha (aged 19, ranked 24) who pushed Rafael Nadal to five sets and is regarded as a future No.1.
The lives of parents Irena and Alexander, both former players – the latter elite but restricted, by the old Soviet system – and now coaches, were very different. Travel and opportunities were limited and so, in 1991, the young married couple took baby Mischa and a job offer for Alex in Hamburg. There were new languages to learn. No extended family support. The need to start over.
![Mischa Zverev cools down ahead of his meeting with former world No.1 Roger Federer.](/web/20170125220630im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/x/9/k/6/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gtx8jv.png/1485174932887.jpg)
"We come into new country, it was new system, all is new, because we live in socialistic country, we come to capitalistic country, it is completely another life, we need of course a little bit of time," says Alex, now coaching both his sons. "We must understand the system, how the system worked and of course, second kid, we need to also good life conditions, and my wife played tennis at this moment, also travelled a lot and it was not easy."
Adds Irena: "We must know German, we must know English, it's big change in life, and also I was very young when I had first baby – 20. I become second kid with 29. Is also good."
For the Zverevs, there is a resolute and quite charming satisfaction with both life chapters, and a determination not to look back. The official family residence is in Monte Carlo, there is a home in Hamburg, and regular time is spent in Saddlebrook, Florida. Tennis was always in the family, but the choice to become professional was left to each child.
"Of course, both kids play tennis, with my wife this is our life, and I'm very happy that children decide to play tennis, and this decision was only for the children to decide. We never push, because I know how difficult it is," says Alex, before Irena adds: "Also for mums this is very healthy life. You see many kids 14, 15, start smoking, drinking. With sport it's not possible."
The differences between the Zverev boys, their parents smile, are more than left or right-handed, or age-related. "Mischa maybe little bit more quiet, can read book, something," says Dad. "And Sascha if he has time, any time is active, play basketball or something. Sascha is maybe more action."
What is a close and supportive fraternal relationship is part of an extremely tight family unit - in a good way. "When Sascha was small Mischa helped a lot to him, and is normal in family. Without grandmum, grandpop in Germany, it's just we four, and everybody help, from side to side." So how proud are they now? "Beautiful, of course," smiles mum.
Is it hard for the older brother to see the younger one so talented, rising so fast? Irena answers first. "But Mischa also big talented!" Yes, but... "Mischa was also at 19, (ranked) 45," says her husband. "But he was not lucky, was injured, with wrist and knee, but Mischa also was also very good in junior time." Mum: "He was No.2 in the world under 18."
And now he will be in the top 50 for the first time, having reached a maiden grand slam quarter-final in his 30th year. The family will be courtside – mum smiling and dad focused is the usual way of things – and Sascha there, too. On Monday night, they shared dinner over a long table in the players restaurant at Melbourne Park.
"Maybe media people, a lot of people, say Sascha is like 'superstar'. We tried to have them always grounded, it is important," says Alex. "Must do a lot of work, a lot of things must get better if you want to really go to the top, but for Mischa of course this tournament is a little bit special. It's the first time in last eight, beat Andy, and beat John Isner, it's really big for him."
On Tuesday, back on Rod Laver Arena, Federer awaits.He leads 2-0 over the German serve-volleyer, including a 6-0, 6-0 drubbing on Halle grass. "Roger playing very good tennis the last time. But, OK, every match is new history," says a patriarch who, for political reasons, could never explore his own playing potential in the way that his sons now can.
"We cannot change. This was the life, and now we have another situation and we're happy that Mischa, Sascha can play tennis. It's normal to play tennis," says Alexander senior. "We try to make it first that children enjoy life. Enjoy tennis, life. And we support."