Tennis Fans Enraged By Zverev's Appointment To ATP Player Advisory Council

| by Nurein Ahmed

The ATP recently announced the new appointees to the Player Advisory Council beginning from the 2024 season, and fans were bewildered by Alexander Zverev's inclusion.

On Monday, January 8th, the ATP noted that World No. 6 Alexander Zverev was among five players voted by their fellow pros as the newest additions to the Player Advisory Council, joining existing members including Grigor Dimitrov, Pedro Martinez, Wesley Koolhof, and Pedro Cachin.

The ATP Player Advisory Council, PAC, plays an important role in representing the interests of fellow players and acts as an intermediary between the umbrella body of men's tennis and the players, thereby enhancing communication between the two stakeholders.

Zverev is one of three players who will represent ATP players ranked in the world's Top 50. But his appointment has not been well received by tennis fans because of accusations of domestic abuse towards his former partner and mother of his child, Brenda Patea.

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At the end of October 2023, a German court in Berlin fined Zverev 450,000€ for causing bodily harm to his ex-girlfriend. Zverev has categorically denied those accusations and has disputed the penalty, terming it a "complete bullsh*t".

After the court ruling, fans have publicly slammed the ATP for not taking action over the allegations. The men's governing body will wait to see whether the verdict will be overturned after the 26-year-old stated that he will appeal.

Tennis fans have since taken to X (formerly Twitter) to demonstrate their anger towards this latest development of Zverev's nomination into the Player Advisory Council.

One user wrote, "Why is there a domestic abuser on here?" upon viewing the list of new nominations into the PAC. Another made a similar remark, "Wow, I am disappointed in ATP players choosing a person facing domestic abuse charges."

"The council has lost all credibility. A domestic abuser elected, disgusting," declared one disgruntled fan while another one claimed, "What the f*ck are you doing @atptour??? THIS is who you want representing you?? Don't see that domestic abuse policy anytime soon."

In an elaborate tweet, one user felt that Zverev's appointment puts the ATP in a very bad light, "Zverev’s appointment to the Players Council is a real disappointment. Zverev faces very real allegations of domestic abuse by two women, including a 450,000 Euro fine being issued in Court, yet he is celebrated by the ATP and his peers. It sends an awful message to victims of DV."

Another user took the opportunity to remind the tennis fraternity that Zverev has been accused of domestic abuse multiple times, "Voting in a man with two credible allegations of domestic abuse against him and with a penalty order from a German court. They're going out of their way to tell everyone that women don't matter. Makes me sick."

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