Alexander Zverev is set to appear in court as a date for the abuse allegations that have been made against him has now been set.
Zverev is currently focusing on getting ready to face compatriot Dominik Koepfer in his first round of the 2024 Australian Open. The 26-year-old started the season by helping Germany to win the United Cup, and he looked in good form.
However, there has also been attention surrounding Zverev off-court. This is due to the allegations of abuse against the German, which he has strongly denied in all public comments he has made about it to date.
Zverev is accused of "physically abusing a woman and damaging her health during an argument." The allegations are made by Zverev's ex-girlfriend, Brenda Patea, who was named by Zverev's lawyers.
In October last year, Zverev received a penalty order by the court and was fined 450,000 euros. This can be done for lesser crimes in Germany when a judge believes the case is straightforward and does not warrant a trial.
However, the accused can contest the order, maintaining the presumption of innocence, which is why Zverev is now set for a public hearing.
Now, as reported by DW, a spokesperson for the court named Lisa Jani has confirmed the month of the trial in a statement.
"The main hearing in the case will begin in May 2024. We will announce the details in due course."
The Olympic champion has continued to remain a visible presence throughout this story. For instance, some fans were enraged that Zverev was appointed to the ATP Player Advisory Council despite the allegations.
Another example was many fans being left unhappy with the portrayal of Zverev in the Netflix series Break Point. These fans felt the allegations were not given the appropriate amount of attention in the series.
It is also possible that the trial could coincide with the French Open, which is also played in May, and where the German will likely compete.