By Canadian Press

Names of Australian Open runner-up Zverev’s past accusers shouted out during trophy ceremony

Jan 26, 2025 | 10:21 AM

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Moments after Alexander Zverev’s loss in the Australian Open final Sunday, a person in the stadium yelled out the names of two of the tennis star’s ex-girlfriends who have accused him of physical abuse in the past, saying “Australia believes” them.

As Zverev stood at a microphone waiting to speak during the trophy ceremony, a voice repeated the phrase three times. Some others in the crowd at Rod Laver Arena booed and whistled.

At his news conference following the match, Zverev, a 27-year-old from Germany, was asked for his reaction to the interruption on court.

“I believe there are no more accusations,” Zverev responded. “There haven’t been for — what? — nine months now. … I think I’ve done everything I can, and I’m not about to open that subject again.”

On the day that Zverev reached the French Open final last June, word emerged from Berlin that a district court there ended a trial stemming from a woman’s accusation of domestic violence during a 2020 argument. The resolution came with the agreement of state prosecutors and lawyers for Zverev and his former partner.

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Zverev previously denied an assault allegation made by another woman. That accusation prompted the men’s professional tennis tour to investigate her claims; the ATP said in January 2023 that there was insufficient evidence.

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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

The Associated Press