Alexander Zverev Responds To Being Protested About Domestic Violence History
News
Alexander Zverev replied to a fan shouting about the German's history of domestic violence accusations during his runner-up speech after the Australian Open final.
Two of Zverev's ex-girlfriends, Olya Sharypova and Brenda Patea, accused Zverev of domestic violence and emotional abuse. Shraypova's accusations were investigated by the ATP, who eventually determined there was insufficient evidence to take action.
Patea took her case to the German legal system. Zverev was initially given a €450,000 penalty order but appealed it. Eventually, the tennis player agreed to settle the case outside of court without admitting guilt.
Zverev undoubtedly hoped to move on from those accusations and focus on his career. However, someone in the crowd at the Australian Open final between him and Jannik Sinner was determined not to let that happen.
Sinner defeated Zverev 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 to retain the Australian Open men's singles title. It was a one-sided contest, and the runner-up never came close to winning his first Grand Slam title on the Rod Laver Arena.
Zverev's pain undoubtedly increased further when a fan protested him during his speech after the match. The spectator shouted the first names of his two accusers and made it clear they believed them.
Last year's Paris Masters champion did not respond to the individual during the ceremony. However, after the final, he briefly discussed the incident in a press conference.
"Good for her. I think she was the only one in the stadium who believed anything in that moment. If that's the case, good for her. I think I've done everything I can, and I'm not going to open that subject again."
It is unsurprising that Zverev does not want to discuss that subject much. However, journalist Ben Rothenberg, who was also the person who posted an initial article about Sharypova's accusations in 2022, in an article on his website, provided details about what happened to the protestor after the incident.
Rothenberg claims that the protestor was removed from the stadium. When he went out to see what was happening to her, the woman recognized the journalist and asked him to stay to see what was happening to her.
A security guard, who Rothenberg called aggressive, told him to move away from the woman, not type on his phone, and return to the seating area, but Rothenberg wanted to stay and see what happened to her.
Tennis Australia also reported the American journalist's presence. Rothenberg says two uniformed police officers gave the woman some paperwork and escorted her out of the arena.
As that happened, the woman told Rothenberg her name. He asked her to message him, which she has not done yet. Tennis Australia and Victoria Police have refused to comment about the situation.
Whether Rothenberg gets the woman's side of the story if she does contact him remains to be seen. Some disapprove of a protest being made at a significant sporting event, but Zverev's story and the broader issue of domestic violence as a whole are very sensitive.
