Alexander Zverev Faces Heckler And Past Allegations After Australian Open Final

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World No. 2 Alexander Zverev found himself addressing the shadow of past domestic abuse allegations after his Australian Open final loss on Sunday. The tennis star was heckled by a crowd member at the Rod Laver Arena following his defeat to Jannik Sinner.

As Zverev prepared to deliver his post-match speech, a spectator shouted the names of two of his former partners who had previously accused him of physical abuse. The heckler added, "Australia believes," referring to the women.

Zverev, who has consistently denied all allegations, initially remained silent on the podium. However, the crowd quickly intervened, drowning out the heckler with boos and applause, allowing Zverev to proceed with his speech.

During the post-match press conference, Zverev expressed his frustration but avoided reopening the controversy. “There are no more accusations. There haven’t been for nine months now,” he said. “If that person believes otherwise, good for her. I’ve done everything I can and won’t revisit this issue.”

The allegations against Zverev date back to 2020, when his ex-girlfriend accused him of attacking her ahead of an ATP Masters 1000 event in 2019. Zverev vehemently denied the claims, describing them as “simply not true.” The ATP launched an investigation in 2021 but concluded it was “unable to substantiate the allegations of abuse” and took no disciplinary action.

Another incident came to light in 2024 when Zverev and the mother of his child settled an assault case in Berlin. The case stemmed from allegations that Zverev physically harmed her during an argument in 2020. While the Berlin Tiergarten District Court fined him €450,000 ($478,000) in October 2023, Zverev appealed the ruling. He later agreed to a reduced fine of €200,000, with his legal team stating the decision was made to expedite the proceedings for the sake of their child. His lawyers maintained, “Alexander Zverev is considered innocent.”

Despite the controversies, Zverev remains focused on his tennis career. Sunday’s loss marked his third defeat in a Grand Slam final. While he has yet to clinch a major title, he celebrated a significant achievement in 2021 by winning gold at the Tokyo Olympics.

The incident at the Australian Open highlights the challenges Zverev faces, both on and off the court, as he continues to navigate public scrutiny and pursue his first Grand Slam victory.

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