Alexander Zverev settles assault case brought by ex-girlfriend

The German tennis player Alexander Zverev has settled an assault case against him for allegedly pushing and strangling his then girlfriend, a charge he denied.

The deal reached between the world No 4 and his former partner Brenda Patea marks the end of a lengthy legal battle, with the Berlin court hearing the case officially declaring no verdict.

Under the terms of the agreement, Zverev will pay €200,000 (£170,000), a court spokesperson said, of which €150,000 will go to the state and €50,000 to a fund for charitable organisations.

Prosecutors, the defence team and Patea as co-plaintiff approved the settlement in the interest of a “peaceful resolution”. It entails no acknowledgment of guilt on Zverev’s part.

The Berlin court last week began hearing an appeal by Zverev, 27, who did not appear in court while he competes at the French Open in Paris. He was fined €450,000 in October as part of a penalty order for allegedly trying to strangle Patea, a former model and the mother of his three-year-old daughter, Mayla.

The judges heard from the prosecutor how, “after a heated argument” at a rented Berlin flat in May 2020, Zverev allegedly pushed Patea against a wall and strangled her with both hands. Patea had difficulty swallowing and breathing and experienced throat pain for several days afterwards, the court was told.

Zverev’s lead defence lawyer, Alfred Dierlamm, rejected the accusations as “unfounded and contradictory”.

His legal team on Friday welcomed the court dropping the case. “Alexander Zverev agreed to this settlement to put a quick end to the proceedings – above all in the interest of their child,” they said in a statement. “The settlement includes no determination or admission of guilt. The presumption of innocence remains.”

Patea did not appear in court on Friday.

The trial had been set to run into the dates of the Wimbledon championships and to conclude just before the start of the Paris Olympics. Zverev, a former Olympic champion, is expected to participate in both events.

Zverev had said before the appeals hearing that he was confident he would be found innocent.

“I believe in the German system. I do believe in the truth, as well. I do know what I did, I do know what I didn’t do. That’s – at the end of the day – what’s going to come out, and I have to trust in that,” he said last month. “I do believe that I’m not going to lose this procedure. There’s absolutely no chance I am. That’s why I can play calmly.”

Zverev previously faced allegations of domestic abuse against his former girlfriend Olga Sharypova, a tennis player. The Association of Tennis Professionals, responsible for the men’s tour, halted its investigation into the claims in January 2023 after more than two years due to insufficient evidence.

Zverev defeated Rafael Nadal in the first round of the French Open last month, possibly ending the Spaniard’s years-long domination of the tournament. The German player will compete in the semi-finals at Roland Garros later on Friday.

He is seeking his first grand slam title, having just won the Italian Open in Rome. But his legal problems have cast a shadow over his on-court wins, with questions about the allegations dogging him at each tournament.