Alexander Zverev survived a scare in the second round of the 2024 Australian Open. In the first Grand Slam of the year, the German sixth seed was defeated in five sets by an unseeded player, Lukas Klein. Zverev successfully advanced to the third round. After the match, the 23-time ATP Tour-level titlist was questioned if he would attend his domestic violence trial in Germany personally. Zverev dismissed the reporter’s query as well.
However, the 27-year-old has faced domestic violence claims in his home nation. He made headlines earlier in June when it was disclosed that he had settled the matter. According to an October 2023 court report, Zverev was accused of “physically abusing and damaging the health of a woman during an argument in Berlin in May 2020.” Brenda Patea, his previous lover, is also the mother of his daughter.
Four years after Olga Sharypova, an ex-girlfriend of World No. 4 tennis player Alexander Zverev, revealed domestic abuse. The journalist who reported her story has had to crowd-fund legal bills to battle a lawsuit from the German. Previously in a post on X, the prominent tennis writer Ben Rothenberg shared a link to the crowdfunding website ‘GoFundMe’ after discussing the cost of litigation with Zverev’s legal team in German courts.
Alexander Zverev faces the court of public
Now the hearing for Alexander Zverev’s slander complaint against tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg has been delayed. The journalist recently confirmed the rescheduled hearing date. The journalist’s legal issues with Zverev began in 2021, following two published reports. Alexander Zverev rejected the charges and sued Rothenberg and the sites that broadcast his stories. During a postmatch news conference at the 2024 Australian Open, Alexander Zverev voiced dissatisfaction with a reporter’s question.
“Update for folks interested in the case: The planned hearing this Friday in Berlin has been delayed due to a request from Zverev’s side. Rescheduled for January 20th, 2025,” Rothenberg wrote. The German could not break his Grand Slam duck. He fell short at the last hurdle at Roland Garros to Alcaraz.
