Alexander Zverev has reacted angrily to questions from reporters after being pressed about his long-running assault case involving his former girlfriend, insisting the matter is closed and demanding that journalists move on.
The 27-year-old German tennis star was visibly frustrated when the issue resurfaced during media duties ahead of his French Open final clash with Carlos Alcaraz. Zverev had been accused of physically abusing Brenda Patea, the mother of his child, during an alleged incident in May 2020. The case, which had dragged on for several years, was officially settled out of court on Friday.
A Berlin court confirmed that the proceedings ended without a verdict and, crucially, without any admission of guilt from Zverev. The settlement brought an end to a legal battle that had threatened to overshadow one of the most important periods of his career.
Speaking to reporters, Zverev reiterated his innocence and made it clear he had no intention of revisiting the subject. “I told you so from the start. I told everybody, and I’m happy that it’s over,” he said. When asked whether he felt uncomfortable that the case concluded without a formal declaration of innocence, Zverev responded sharply.
“That’s what dropping the case is. That is innocence,” he said. “They’re not going to drop the case if you’re guilty at the end of the day. I don’t know what translations you have, but that’s what it means. Done. We move on. I never ever want to hear another question about the subject again. That goes out to everybody.”
Zverev’s defence lawyer, Alfred Dierlamm, also welcomed the outcome, describing the accusations as “unfounded and contradictory.” He stated that had the trial continued, the court would have reviewed messages and heard witness testimony that, in his view, would have provided an objective account of the events in question.
The trial had been scheduled to run into June and July, creating uncertainty around Zverev’s playing schedule. There was a possibility he could have been forced to miss Wimbledon, which takes place from July 1 to July 14, or even be summoned to court during the French Open. Ultimately, Zverev was not required to attend the proceedings in person and remained in Paris throughout the tournament.
Zverev and Patea reportedly dated for less than a year between 2019 and 2021. Their daughter, Mayla, was born in 2021. While the legal case is now closed, the episode has followed Zverev closely, frequently resurfacing during major tournaments.
With the settlement finalised, Zverev is eager to shift the focus back to tennis. As he prepares for one of the biggest matches of his career, the world number contender has made his stance clear: the legal chapter is over, and he wants all attention firmly back on the court.