Zverev settles abuse case brought by former girlfriend

BERLIN, Germany – Alexander Zverev has agreed a settlement after the mother of his child accused him of physical abuse and a German court closed the case on Friday, June 7, the French Open semifinalist’s lawyers said.

The agreement, according to German media, includes a monetary condition of 200,000 euros ($217,820), with the player not found guilty of any wrongdoing.

“The process against Alexander Zverev was shelved today by the court with the agreement of the prosecutor’s office and Ms Brenda Patea,” the player’s lawyers said in a statement.

“Alexander Zverev agreed to this… in order to shorten the process especially in the interest of the child they have together. Alexander Zverev remains innocent.”

The decision comes hours before Zverev, 27, beat Casper Ruud in the French Open last four on Friday.

“I told you so from the start. I told everybody. I’m happy that it’s over. Nothing more to say. That’s it. Four years. I’m happy about that,” Zverev told reporters.

“They’re not going to drop the case if you’re guilty at the end of the day… We move on. I never ever want to hear another question about the subject again. That goes out to everybody.”

The German had been ordered last year by the Berlin-Tiergarten court to pay an undisclosed fine in the case with his lawyers contesting the court order.

The world No. 4 had rejected the accusation made by his former girlfriend that she was a victim of bodily harm during an argument in 2020.

The pair had a daughter in 2021, though by that time they were no longer together.

In January 2023 the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) closed an investigation that was launched after another ex-girlfriend, tennis player Olga Sharypova, accused Zverev of domestic abuse. The ATP cited insufficient evidence as its reason for dropping the case. – Rappler.com

($1 = 0.9182 euros)