Mischa Zverev taking inspiration from younger brother Alexander

Mischa Zverev is taking inspiration from his younger brother, Alexander, as both have made it to the third round of the Australian Open.

The two have been on very different career paths, but are now finding success alongside each other. While 19-year-old Alexander, nicknamed Sascha, is the youngest player in the Top 50, Mischa, 29, just recently got back there following injury. He defeated John Isner in five sets to win his second-round encounter, following Alexander's five-set win over Robin Haase in the first round.

"Actually, at one point I thought about him winning in five sets yesterday, being two sets to one down [and] a break down in the fourth," Mischa told reporters after upsetting Isner. "I felt like maybe I could do the same today. I looked at my dad. I am like, 'Poor him.' He has to watch five sets of Sascha yesterday; now he's watching five sets of me today. He must be struggling inside.

"But he was very, very positive and pumped. Actually, looking at him, I think like, ‘Today is going to be the day where I'm going to win in five sets, too, because Sascha did it yesterday.’ I have to do the same thing. I'm his older brother."

Mischa’s win over the 6’10” American came just three months after Alexander beat him in Shanghai.

"He told me a few things here or there," said Mischa. "Knowing that he beat him—and I was there, and I watched it—also makes me believe that I can do it. When I practice with Sascha, I feel like if I can keep up with him, return his serve, feel like what the baseline game is like, those are little things that help you as a player."

Mischa described his win over Isner as a particularly emotional one.

"It was the first time [I ever made the] third round in Australia,” he said. “The last time I played [in the] third round anywhere in [a] Slam was Wimbledon in 2008. It's been a long time. I couldn't believe it. I've never actually won a best-of-five match if I haven't won the first two sets. So being down two sets to love is a whole another story, especially against John Isner. Match point down, break down in the fourth."

Having Alexander around helps motivate him, he added.

"When you're young, you wake up in the morning [and] you already play better than you did yesterday,” the world No. 50 said. “You know me, being a little bit older, I feel like I have to work a lot to try to keep up. But managing to do so makes me be confident in my game when I play other people."

The others around him are also helping Mischa's career resurgence.

"Off the court, on the court, I just feel like I'm pretty happy,” the German said. “I'm healthy. I'm playing OK. I'm moving okay. My whole family is here. My girlfriend is here.”

According to the ATP, it is the first time since 1998 that two brothers are both in the third round of a Grand Slam.