Resurfaced: Zverev Makes Apology Of A Lifetime For Young Fan In Rome

Editor’s Note: ATPTour.com is resurfacing features to bring fans closer to their favourite players during the current suspension in tournament play. This story was originally published on 13 May 2019.

Alexander Zverev might have lost a doubles match Monday with brother Mischa Zverev at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, but he left the court with a lifetime fan.

The 2017 singles champion put away an overhead at 3-3 in the first set against Raven Klaasen and Michael Venus, bouncing the ball over the fence and into the crowd. At the next changeover, Zverev greeted the young fan whom the ball hit, checking on her and tying one of his headband’s around her forehead, leaving the youngster with a big smile on her face.

This is the cutest thing you’ll see all week…

Well played, Sascha ☺️#ibi19 pic.twitter.com/twaSEqLTV9

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) May 13, 2019

“I obviously hit her with an overhead, which was not on purpose,” Zverev said. “I saw she was a little bit sad, crying. Yeah, I thought that was the right thing to do, to give her a little present, cheer her up. I hope it made her day.”

It’s not the first time Zverev has made a young lifetime fan outside of his play, either. In Miami two years ago, he gave one of his headbands to a ‘Mini Sascha’ in the crowd. Last year, Zverev met with the boy again, giving him a new headband and even inviting him out to the practice court for a hit.

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Zverev begins his singles campaign in Rome against Italian wild card Matteo Berrettini.