Mischa Zverev happy to learn from younger brother Alexander

Mischa emerged from the shadow of his younger brother’s rapidly rising stardom in Melbourne last month.  Armed with a long forgotten skill of serve and volley, the injury-ridden German beat  Murray in the fourth round before losing to the eventual winner Roger Federer in the quarter-finals.

"Call it naive maybe but (Alexander) has this young positive outlook, he just kept telling me to believe in good things," Mischa said. Alexander has been touted as the next big thing in tennis.

Alexander has been touted as the next big thing in tennis.

He true, like we saw not so long ago in Melbourne. He has had faith in me. I like to think I've helped him too of course. Telling him about my experiences on Tour and in life," Mischa said.

I had to catch up with him and maybe be part of the journey he is taking right now. It's an incredible thing.

Mischa Zverev

Son of former Soviet Union Davis Cup player Alexander Zverev Sr., Mischa and his younger brother will turn out together for Germany in Davis Cup for the first time – this will also be the first time two brothers will play in this tournament for Germany.

While Mischa's recent performances has pushed him to No 35 in the world rankings, he still has a lot of catching-up to do with Alexander Jr. The 19-year-old is currently ranked 22.

"When he started to play really well a year or two ago I was really thrilled and excited and then it was up to me to get my ranking up and improve my tennis. I had to catch up with him and maybe be part of the journey he is taking right now. It's an incredible thing," Mischa told Reuters.

Mischa is determined to prove that the Australian Open was not a flash in the pan. "I really did enjoy the whole experience in Australia. Looking back on it, the off-season was very tough, but now I realise it was actually a lot of fun because it was part of such a great journey overall," he said.

"It has sunk in now but tennis moves fast. Whatever happened last week south of the equator has to stay there. That's in the past already so hopefully I can take the confidence and all the positive experience I've got from that and take that into the whole of the 2017 season.

"Players will focus on me now and try to figure out my game (serve and volley) a bit better. But I'll accept that and keep working. You never know what's going to happen in the next few weeks."