Alexander Zverev domestic abuse case dominates post match questioning at Australian Open as Swiatek, Tsitsipas, Ruud and Dimitrov all quizzed

With the news over the last day surrounding Alexander Zverev's domestic abuse case going to court at the end of May, questioning instead of being about their respective wins at the Australian Open was dominated on Tuesday morning to victors about their thoughts on the case with many declining to comment.

Zverev who is currently facing off against Dominik Koepfer as of time of writing at the Australian Open will go to trial at the end of May in Berlin accused of 'physically abusing a woman and damaging her health during an argument'. The woman in question is his former girlfriend, Brenda Patea who is also the mother of his child.

Last October, he was given a penalty order and fined 450,000 euros but contested this so is now going to trial. The trial will occur during the French Open, but Zverev does not need to be there in person so won't affect his campaign. It is not the first time he has been accused with ex girlfriend Olya Sharypova also making a series of allegations which prompted an ATP investigation which found 'insufficient evidence' to prove any wrongdoing.

But given the severity of such a case, journalists were quick to quiz those coming through the door after wins in Melbourne. I haven’t had too much time to think about it, and don’t really have an opinion right now,” Casper Ruud said after beating Albert Ramos-Vinolas “I’m not exactly sure how to react to it, so won’t give you a good answer.”

He was also recently appointed to the Player Council which saw some backlash and Grigor Dimitrov who also prevailed over Marton Fucsovics was also asked about it with the Bulgarian with the German on the council. "I always stay away from the press in general. I don’t read much,” he said. “On the council, I don’t know what to say. It’s not only up to me who is in there. I think this is a matter that everyone needs to sit down together and discuss all of that.’ “I’m sure if you ask all the other guys, it’s something that if it’s needed, I guess we are all going to sit down and talk about it.”

Stefanos Tsitsipas was also asked about it and gave a similar answer. “I will not say on that. I don't know the situation. I'm completely unfamiliar with it. I have nothing to comment on it.” As was Iga Swiatek, the WTA World No.1 who was also asked about Rafael Nadal's role in Saudi Arabia being announced as opposed to her own performance against Sofia Kenin. “Any answer that I give, I mean, there's no good answer to that. I think it's up to ATP what they decide. For sure it's not good when a player who's facing charges like that is kind of being promoted…”