Alexander Zverev trial begins in Berlin amid French Open campaign

Alexander Zverev’s trial has begun in Berlin amid his ongoing campaign at the French Open in Paris.

The German, who has been as high as world No 2 in the ATP Rankings, is contesting a penalty order which was placed against him last October, after an accusation by ex-partner Brenda Patea.

Former US Open finalist Zverev denies the accusations against him, which concern an alleged incident that took place in Berlin in May 2020, according to court proceedings.

Prosecutors claim that Zverev pushed Patea against a wall and strangled her in an apartment after what was described in court documents as a “heated argument.”

The court was told that Patea had difficulty swallowing and breathing in the aftermath of the alleged incident, though defence lawyer Alfred Dierlamm stated the allegations were “unfounded and contradictory” – and claimed to have a range of witnesses and evidence to disprove the allegation.

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Zverev has consistently denied the allegation since it emerged towards the tail-end of last year, with a €450,000 fine being issued against him seven months ago.

The fourth seed at Roland Garros is not expected to attend the hearing at any stage – unless requested to do so – and is set to be back on court on Saturday.

Having faced Rafael Nadal and David Goffin so far, Zverev – who has reached three consecutive semi-finals in Paris – will face 26th seed Tallon Griekspoor on Court Philippe Chatrier in a third-round contest.

Questioned ahead of his trial in the build-up to Roland Garros, Zverev said: “I do believe in the truth, as well. I have to be certain that, you know, I do know what I did, I do know what I didn’t do.

“That’s, at the end of the day, what’s going to come out, and I have to trust in that.”

Zverev is currently second on the ATP Tour Race to Turin, after a season that has seen him reach the last four of the Australian Open and win the Italian Open for a second time earlier in May.

The 27-year-old has won 22 career titles, including the Olympic title at Tokyo 2020 and two ATP Finals victories, though a cloud has loomed over his career since a first allegation of domestic abuse emerged in October 2020.

Another former partner of Zverev, Olya Sharapova, made allegations of abuse against the German online, and later across a two-part article.

Zverev has also consistently denied those allegations, and an ATP investigation into the allegations found no conclusive evidence of any wrongdoing.

The trial in Germany continues next week.

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