Australian Open runner-up Alexander Zverev had to wait for an interruption from a fan in the crowd before making his post-match speech after the men’s singles final on Sunday night.
The second seed went down to a devastating Jannik Sinner in straight sets at Rod Laver Arena as a major champion continues to elude him, but the Italian world No.1’s game on the court wasn’t the only heat Zverev had to cop.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Alexander Zverev cops abuse from member of the crowd.
“Just as Zverev is about to speak at the trophy ceremony, a woman repeatedly shouts: ‘Australia believes Olya and Brenda! Australia believes Olya and Brenda!’ Broke through the silence,” prominent tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg said.
Zverev looked up to the stands and paused for an uncomfortable moment before shrugging it off and beginning his speech.
The woman’s protests were in reference to multiple domestic violence allegations which have been levelled at Zverev, who has never been formally charged with anything and vehemently denies any wrongdoing.
According to court documents, the German world No.2 was accused of “physically abusing and damaging the health of a woman during an argument in Berlin in May 2020”.
That woman is his former partner and the mother of his daughter, Brenda Patea, who claims Zverev pushed her into a wall and choked her.
In October 2023, Zverev was issued a fine of €450,000 ($747,450) and a penalty order by a criminal court, which can be used under German law when compelling evidence supports an accusation and a trial is deemed unnecessary.
A public trial is triggered, however, when defendants contest the order, which Zverev exercised his right to do.
Zverev maintained the presumption of innocence, later calling the penalty order “complete b******.
“Anybody that has a semi-standard IQ level knows what this is all about,” Zverev said when asked by media at the Paris Masters, without being drawn into any further explanation.
Zverev and Patea later settled their dispute out of court in June last year with no admission of guilt.
Patea was the second former partner of Zverev’s to accuse him of abuse after Olya Sharypova, who put forward her claims on Instagram in 2020.
Sharypova was interviewed a number of times thereafter, where she detailed multiple instances of violence, including Zverev allegedly punching her in the face. She also claimed she feared for her life when he forcefully deprived her of air with a pillow.
Zverev denied the “unfounded accusations”, calling them “simply not true”.
Sharypova did not engage police involvement, but the ATP commissioned an independent investigation which, after 15 months and interviews with 26 people, found in January 2023 that there was insufficient evidence to support the allegations.
“From the beginning, I have maintained my innocence and denied the baseless allegations made against me,” Zverev said in a statement at the time.
“I welcomed and fully cooperated with the ATP’s investigation and am grateful for the organisation’s time and attention in this matter.”
Content Source: www.perthnow.com.au