Alexander Zverev has acknowledged a significant change in his perspective since becoming a father, aiming to emulate Roger Federer’s calm and responsible demeanor as a tennis role model. The World No. 3, previously known for volatile on-court behavior and controversies, including domestic abuse allegations, attributes his growth to fatherhood and Federer’s influence.

Zverev welcomed his daughter Mayla in 2021 with former partner Brenda Patea. This life event has prompted a new approach to maintaining composure during matches. Notably, during his 2025 Canadian Open quarter-final against Alexei Popyrin, despite setbacks and crowd heckling, Zverev kept his temper in check and secured a 6-7 (8-9), 6-4, 6-3 victory.

Reflecting on his evolution, Zverev said, “Some time ago, I would have smashed a racket after the first set, but I have not done so in three and a half years, and it will continue to be that way. I have accepted the responsibility I have as a person to be a tennis role model. Becoming a father has changed me; I want to set a good example and be remembered for my tennis and the good things I do off the court, such as with my Foundation, not for my outbursts that I used to have, right? That’s just something that at some point it just comes.”

He credited Federer’s transformation from a temperamental young player to a paragon of professionalism as inspiration:

“In a way, Federer has been an inspiration for making this change. Seeing how he lost his temper when he was young and then became absolute perfection made me make this decision.”

Federer’s commitment extended beyond tennis, with his Foundation funding education for underprivileged children. Similarly, Zverev, who publicly revealed his type 1 diabetes diagnosis in 2022, established the Alexander Zverev Foundation to aid children living with the condition.

“There’s quite a lot of work that I do with my foundation, and with my family as well, which can be beneficial and helps people around the world,” Zverev added, emphasizing how these efforts complement his personal growth.

Ben Shelton and Alex de Minaur will face each other for the first time in what promises to be a compelling match at the ATP Toronto tournament. Ranked No. 7 and No. 8 respectively, the players bring contrasting styles that should produce an engaging contest for tennis fans.

Shelton, relatively new to the tour, acknowledges the challenge posed by de Minaur, who is renowned for his speed and relentless defense. “He’s a dawg,” Shelton said. “I’m ready for it. And for people who haven’t heard that saying, that’s a good thing.”

De Minaur enters this match on an impressive eight-match winning streak, coming off his title victory in Washington. His recent performance, including a highly watched rally against Frances Tiafoe, highlights his ability to maintain rhythm and fight back even when trailing.

Shelton, with his height and power advantage, plans to leverage his serve-driven game against de Minaur’s agile defense. Success for Shelton will depend on his consistency, his ability to finish points when he gains the upper hand, and sharp execution of his serve, forehand, and volley.

The clash blends Shelton’s developing power game with de Minaur’s experienced resilience, setting the stage for an exciting match in the Toronto draw.

Top seed Alexander Zverev rallied past the defending champion Alexei Popyrin in a tense quarterfinal match at the National Bank Open in Toronto. Zverev lost the opening set in a close tiebreak 6-7 (8) but fought back to claim the next two sets 6-4, 6-3.

Zverev, a German ranked No. 3 globally and the 2017 winner of this tournament, reached his 75th ATP Tour semifinal and is targeting his 25th ATP title and eighth at the Masters 1000 level. He will meet No. 11 seed Karen Khachanov from Russia next, who defeated No. 26 Alex Michelsen 6-4, 7-6 (3) to reach the semis.

The match began with Popyrin taking the first set after a deft backhand volley dropped just over the net at 6-7 (8), energizing his fans. Zverev showed frustration briefly by striking a ball out of the stadium but quickly regrouped, securing an early 2-0 lead in the second set. Both players exchanged breaks, but Zverev broke late to take the set 6-4.

Zverev then secured two breaks early in the third set to gain a 2-0 lead and never relinquished his advantage, closing out the match. His victory improves his career record against Popyrin to 4-0, including a win at the Paris Olympics.

This season, Zverev has won two clay-court titles and is the highest-ranked player in a Toronto field missing key stars such as Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Jack Draper, and Novak Djokovic. The remaining quarterfinals will see Taylor Fritz face Andrey Rublev and Ben Shelton take on Alex de Minaur, with semifinals scheduled for Wednesday and the final on Thursday.