Alexander Zverev has insisted his impending domestic abuse hearing will not be a distraction ahead of the French Open.
The world number 4 was fined £390,000 by a German court and handed a sanctioning order last year after being accused of assaulting his ex-girlfriend, Brenda Patea. The 27-year-old contests the charge and the hearing begins next Thursday.
After confirming that he will not need to attend in person, Zverev was asked if he has a hearing date in mind.
“Not at all,” he said. ‘I believe in the German system. I also believe in the truth. I know what I did, I know what I didn’t do.
‘At the end of the day, that’s what’s going to come out, and I have to trust that.
Alexander Zverev has insisted he is not distracted from the French Open by his impending domestic abuse court hearing.
Brenda Patea described her ex-boyfriend as ‘jealous’ and claimed this could lead to ‘repeated physical violence’ against her. Zverev has denied any irregularity against him
‘I’m not going to miss this procedure. There is absolutely no chance it will be. That’s why I can play with peace of mind and I think my results have shown it.”
In May 2020, Patea alleged that the former world No. 2 “strangled her during an argument” and was a “jealous man.”
A statement from his representative, Schertz Bergmann, described the fine as “scandalous” and suggested that the player would act “using all possible means.”
Patea is believed to have dated Zverev for less than 12 months between 2019 and the birth of their daughter Mayla in 2021.
The German model described that a “mixture of embarrassment, fear of Zverev’s lawyers and concern for her son” played a role in why she delayed applying for the injunction, but spoke to Süddeutsche ZeitungPatea said his decision to speak out is in an attempt to set an example for victims of assault.
Patea claims that during the confrontation, Zverev “pushed her against the wall and strangled her during an argument in the hallway.”
This caused “pain in her throat and neck, and difficulty swallowing,” something she discussed when speaking to two friends after the incident.
Zverev has remained largely silent about the allegations, but described the court sanctioning order imposed on him last November as “complete nonsense”, before adding: “Anyone with semi-standard IQ levels knows what It’s all this”. about.’
The former world number 2 and the German model were together for less than 12 months
Zverev faces 14-time champion Rafael Nadal in a spectacular first-round match on Monday, and said he will not underestimate a player who has seemed a shadow of his former self. “For me, in my opinion, I’m going to play against Rafa Nadal,” he insisted.
That’s what I hope it is. I hope he is at his best. I hope he plays the best tennis he has played in a long time on this court.
‘There has always been discussion. I mean, (in) 2022, I remember that he arrived at Roland Garros without winning Monte Carlo, without winning Madrid, without winning Rome.
“When he came into this tournament, everyone was like, ‘Oh, it’s a big question mark, it’s this and that.’ He came in and dominated the whole tournament.
“I think he’s going to be at his best and that’s my mentality going into this game.”
Zverev was asked who he felt was more unlucky to play the other at the earliest possible stage.
He said: “I think we both, if we had the choice, would choose differently, without a doubt.”
Zverev won his second title in Rome with a boost of confidence heading into Roland Garros.
He will face Rafael Nadal in the first round, a legend he describes as at his ‘peak’
“I really wanted to play him one more time, one more time. Because I didn’t want my last memory to be of me rolling in a wheelchair on the Philippe Chatrier. I really wanted to play him here.
‘I didn’t want to play him in the first round (smiling). I wanted to play against him in the semi-finals, in the final, at a later stage of the tournament.
“But at the end of the day, he’s not seeded, that’s just the way it is, and I think we’re both prepared for a tough battle.”