MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Following Alexander Zverev's defeat in the Australian Open final, a disruptive incident occurred during the trophy ceremony. A spectator in the stadium shouted the names of two of Zverev's ex-girlfriends who had previously accused him of physical abuse, stating “Australia believes” them. This outburst was met with a mix of reactions from the crowd, with some booing and whistling.
During the subsequent news conference, Zverev, a 27-year-old tennis player from Germany, was questioned about the interruption on court. In response, Zverev acknowledged that there had been no new accusations in the past nine months and expressed his reluctance to revisit the subject.
Last June, on the day Zverev reached the French Open final, news emerged from Berlin regarding the conclusion of a trial related to a woman's domestic violence accusation against him during a 2020 altercation. The case was resolved with the agreement of state prosecutors and legal representatives for Zverev and his former partner.
Notably, Zverev had previously refuted an assault allegation made by another woman, prompting an investigation by the men’s professional tennis tour. In January 2023, the ATP announced that there was insufficient evidence to support the claims.
These incidents have cast a shadow over Zverev's career, with ongoing scrutiny and public attention surrounding the allegations. Despite his achievements on the tennis court, these off-court controversies continue to be a topic of discussion within the tennis community and beyond.
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