Reports suggest that Alexander Zverev, the former world number two tennis player, has received a penalty order and been fined by a German court following accusations of physical abuse made by his ex-girlfriend. The court imposed a fine of 450,000 euros in October, according to press agency AFP.
Zverev vehemently denies the allegations and has lodged an objection against the order. As a result, he remains legally innocent and awaits a final ruling. It is possible that the case may proceed to a public trial.
Multiple media outlets, including AFP, have reported that Olympic champion Zverev, who is currently participating in the Paris Masters, is accused of physically assaulting his former girlfriend during an argument in Berlin in May 2020.
While speaking in Paris on Wednesday, Zverev expressed his intent to challenge the penalty. He stated, “I’m going against it,” and refrained from providing further comments regarding the case, acknowledging that there is a pending legal procedure.
In Germany, a penalty order is issued when a judge believes a ruling can be made based on the available written evidence, without going to trial. However, the defendant has the right to contest the penalty order, which often leads to a public trial.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Zverev’s legal team argued that the evidence had been discredited by a forensic medical report conducted by a Berlin doctor, deeming it “incomprehensible and contradictory.” They also claimed that serious procedural violations had occurred during the process leading to the penalty order.
Zverev’s legal representatives from the Schertz Bergmann law firm asserted that he would utilize all available means to defend himself against the accusations.
Prosecutors filed the penalty order application in July. Later that month, Zverev publicly addressed the accusation for the first time during a tournament in Hamburg. He stated, “From my side, I completely reject the allegations. My lawyers are handling the matter, and I won’t provide any further comments.”
Previously this year, the ATP Tour, the governing body of men’s tennis, conducted an investigation into other allegations of domestic abuse made by a different former partner of Zverev’s. The investigation concluded that there was “insufficient evidence” to initiate disciplinary action against him.
Specifically, the ATP investigation assessed the claims made by Zverev’s former girlfriend, Olya Sharypova, and determined that there was insufficient evidence to support her allegations. In 2020, Sharypova accused Zverev of violence and emotional abuse during their relationship, claims that Zverev firmly denies.
It should be noted that the ATP decision regarding Zverev’s case could be reconsidered if new evidence emerges.
