“I feel like everybody is thinking the same right now.”
This is what Daria Kasatkina wrote on social media following Daniil Medvedev’s epic win over Alexander Zverev on Friday.
The women’s world No.13 never elaborated on what she meant but many guessed it was linked to the prospect of a player accused of committing wrongdoing winning the Australian Open. Zverev has battled valiantly throughout the tournament and produced some of his best tennis against Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals. The German did this whilst avoiding questions about a subject that his peers also didn’t want to get into.
It began on October 23rd 2023 when the tennis star was ordered to pay $475,000 to the court concerning domestic abuse allegations his former partner, Brenda Patea. Under German law, such fines can be issued without trial if the judge deems there to be sufficient evidence. However, Zverev has refused to accept that finding and instead plans to contest the allegations in a trial to prove his innocence. Coincidentally that trial is scheduled to start on May 31st which is during this year’s French Open.
Many have called for Zverev to be suspended from the Tour amid the allegations but he hasn’t been. The reason why is perhaps a bit confusing if you look at the ATP rule book, which gives the ATP Member Fines Committee the power to do so.
“A player, or related person, charged with a violation of a criminal or civil law of any jurisdiction may be deemed by virtue of such charge to have engaged in conduct contrary to the integrity of the Game of Tennis and the ATP Members Fines Committee may provisionally suspend such player, or related person, from further participation in ATP tournaments pending a final determination of the criminal or civil proceeding.” The rules state.
Then again this is the same rule book which can technically fine players who comment on Zverev’s ongoing allegations. Section 8:03 states ‘public comments that one of the stated persons above (includes players) knows, or should reasonably know, will harm the reputation or financial best interests of a tournament, player, sponsor, official or ATP are expressly covered by this section.’ So players find themselves between a rock and a hard place.
Such a serious allegation of domestic abuse can’t be taken lightly. In the UK one government survey estimated that 2.1 million people aged 16 years and over experienced domestic abuse in the year ending March 2023 but less than 52,000 persecutions took place during that same period. Is it for this reason why some might question the ATP’s silence on the matter. Surely they would want to clarify their stance?
It is important to note that Zverev could be entirely innocent. After all, without seeing the full facts it is impossible to come to a conclusion. However, this isn’t the first time he has been involved in such an incident.
A few years back another former partner, Olga Sharypova, claimed that she was physically and mentally abused by the tennis star. One allegation was that Zverev abused her during their stay at the 2019 Shanghai Masters. This prompted a 15-month ATP investigation which eventually concluded that there was ‘insufficient evidence to substantiate the claims.’ Zverev was allowed to play throughout the investigation.
Unlike Patea, Sharypova didn’t take any legal action against her former partner.
Zverev has always denied any wrongdoing concerning both of those allegations. He is visibly frustrated when asked about the topic. However he should expect such questioning considering what he has been accused of by two different people.
“I have said it before, anyone who has a semi-decent IQ level understands what’s going on. I hope that most of you guys do. I’m fine with it,” he said following his loss Medvedev.
It seems as if Zverev believe he is the victim in all of this. The best thing to do is to see what the Berlin criminal court concludes before saying any more about that.
As for the ATP, they need to implement a clearer framework when it comes to their players being accused of wrongdoing. Of if they already have this in place, communicate it more efficiently to the public.
This article wasn’t written to say that Zverev is guilty or innocent. However, it does highlight areas the sport as a whole needs to work on.
