Puppy love as French Open winner Zverev gifted dog by girlfriend

8 Jun 2026 • 9:50 PM MYT
DPA International
DPA International

DPA, founded in 1949, one of the world’s leading independent news agencies

Image from: Puppy love as French Open winner Zverev gifted dog by girlfriend
German tennis player Alexander Zverev celebrates his victory with the trophy after defeating Italy's Flavio Cobolli during their Men's Singles Final match of the French Open tennis tournament on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Roland-Garros complex. Matthieu Mirville/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Alexander Zverev's present for winning the French Open was a dachshund puppy.

His girlfriend, German TV presenter Sophia Thomalla, surprised him before his after-match party on Sunday with a new family member.

"This is Buba, 15 weeks old and the second dog alongside Mishka that now belongs to Sascha and me," she told the Bild newspaper on Monday. "Sascha first spent an hour and a half with him so we got to dinner far too late."

Zverev, who won his maiden major title in Paris by beating Italian Flavio Cobolli in five sets, is known as a big dog fan.

Before Buba's arrival, Mishka and other dogs from his family - Lövik and Junior - were allowed on court at Roland Garros for a special photograph.