Alexander Zverev resolves the ex-girlfriend’s assault case
After Brenda Patea accused him of pushing and strangling her—a claim he refuted—the German tennis player accepted the offer.
The German tennis star Alexander Zverev, who initially refuted the accusation that he had pushed and strangled his ex-girlfriend, has settled an assault lawsuit against him.
After much litigation, the world No. 4 and his former companion Brenda Patea came to an agreement; the Berlin court that was hearing the case formally declared there would be no verdict.
Zverev will pay €200,000 (£170,000) in accordance with the conditions of the deal, of which €150,000 will go to the government and €50,000 to a fund for nonprofit organizations, according to a court official.
In an effort to reach a “peaceful resolution,” Patea, the defense team, and the prosecutors all authorized the deal. Zverev does not have to admit wrongdoing in any way.
The 27-year-old Zverev, who is competing at the French Open in Paris, did not appear in court, and last week the Berlin court started considering his appeal. His three-year-old daughter, Mayla,’s mother, Patea, was a former model, and she was the subject of a €450,000 punishment in October as part of a penalty order.
The prosecution told the judges how Zverev allegedly slammed Patea against a wall and strangled her with both hands “following a violent quarrel” at a leased Berlin apartment in May 2020. The court heard that Patea suffered from throat pain for several days after the incident, in addition to trouble breathing and swallowing.
Alfred Dierlamm, Zverev’s principal defense attorney, dismissed the charges as “unfounded and contradictory.”
On Friday, his legal team applauded the court’s decision to dismiss the case. They released a statement saying, “Alexander Zverev consented to this settlement to put a swift conclusion to the proceedings—above all in the sake of their child.” “There is no finding of guilt or admission of guilt in the settlement. There is still a presumption of innocence.
Patea failed not show up for Friday’s court date.
The trial was scheduled to end just before the commencement of the Paris Olympics and to coincide with the Wimbledon championship dates. Expected to compete in both events is Zverev, a former Olympic champion.
Zverev has declared his confidence in his innocence prior to the appeals session.
“I think the German system works. Yes, I do think that there is truth. I’m aware of both the things I did and didn’t do. it’s ultimately what will surface, so I have to have faith in it,” he remarked last month. “I really think I’m going to survive this procedure. There is no possibility that I am. Thus, I am able to play.
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.
