When Alexander Zverev stepped onto the court for his Round of 32 match at the National Bank Open in Toronto, he was one victory away from tennis history. The German’s girlfriend, actress and model Sophia Thomalla, made sure the milestone moment didn’t go unnoticed, celebrating his achievement where it matters most: social media.
How Did Alexander Zverev Reach His Historic 500th ATP Victory?
Zverev earned his place in tennis history with a hard-fought comeback victory over Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi. After dropping the opening set in a tiebreak, the top-seeded German found another gear, rallying to win 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-2 and secure his landmark 500th career victory on the ATP Tour.
The moment the milestone was reached 🔥@AlexZverev completes the comeback as he takes out Matteo Arnaldi 6-7 6-3 6-2 💪#NBO25 pic.twitter.com/yuE8FBYYSc
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 1, 2025
The victory came after Zverev had already secured safe passage through the tournament’s early rounds. Making his seventh appearance at the ATP Masters 1000 event, the Hamburg native received a bye into the second round, where he defeated Australian Adam Walton in straight sets, 7-6(6), 6-4, setting up his historic encounter with Arnaldi.
Thomalla couldn’t contain her excitement over her boyfriend’s achievement. The German actress and model took to her Instagram stories to reshare Zverev’s milestone graphic, ensuring her followers knew about this significant moment in his career.
What Makes Zverev’s 500-Win Milestone So Special?
The numbers tell the story of just how exclusive this club really is. According to the ATP, Zverev became the first player born in 1990 or later to achieve the 500-win feat. He now joins just four other active male players who have crossed that threshold, putting him in elite company on the current tour.
The pace of his achievement is equally impressive. Zverev stands as the seventh-fastest man this century to reach 500 wins, trailing only tennis legends Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Lleyton Hewitt, and Andy Roddick. Among German players in the Open Era, he joins an exclusive trio alongside Boris Becker, who finished with 713 wins, and Tommy Haas, who recorded 569 victories.
Zverev himself seemed to grasp the magnitude of the moment. “It’s a great achievement. There’s not a lot of players that reached that milestone,” he said in his post-match interview. “Of course I still want 500 more hopefully to come, and maybe even more! When you start your career, you wish to play on Tour, you wish to have a successful career, win as many matches as possible. I think 500 is definitely a milestone, and I’m happy about that.”
Despite the celebration, the German remains focused on the work ahead. “I don’t exactly know what number I’m on, but I knew that I was close to 500,” he told ATPTour.com. “It’s special for sure. But at the end of the day, nothing changes for me. I’ve still got to do the work, I’ve still got to try and keep improving and try to win another 500.”
Can Zverev Overcome His Toughest Challenge Yet in Toronto?
The celebration will have to wait. Zverev’s path to another National Bank Open title, where he previously triumphed in 2017, runs straight through No. 14 seed Francisco Cerundolo in the fourth round. The matchup presents his biggest test yet, with the Argentine holding a commanding 3-0 head-to-head record in their three previous meetings on the ATP Tour.
The winner of that encounter will advance to face either No. 18 seed Alexei Popyrin or No. 5 seed Holger Rune in the quarterfinals, keeping Zverev’s championship hopes alive as he seeks to add another trophy to his collection at this Masters 1000 event.
MORE: Alexander Zverev vs. Francisco Cerundolo Preview: Head-to-Head and Prediction for Canadian Open 2025
Beyond his singles campaign, Zverev is also competing in doubles alongside partner Marcelo Melo. The pair will take on No. 6 seeds Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski in their opening round, with the winner advancing to face Horacio Zeballos and Austin Krajicek in the second round.
