Retired ATP pro Kevin Anderson has come to the aid of tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg, who is currently embroiled in a defamation lawsuit brought on by former World No.2 Alexander Zverev.
In 2021, the German tennis star sued Rothenberg for defamation after the North American published the testimony of Olya Sharypova, Zverev’s ex-girlfriend, who alleged acts of violence by the athlete when the two were a couple between 2019 and 2020. Zverev has since denied those accusations, and fired back at Rothenberg via lawsuit.
Anderson makes sizable donation to Rothenberg's GoFundMe campaign
The journalist launched an online fundraiser to finance his legal defense, with the goal of raising $22,000. This would be sufficient to cover the costs of the appeal in the case, which will take place in December in a German court, and what he would have to pay the athlete if he loses.
The campaign appears to be a success, with more than 450 patrons donating to Rothenberg's cause. Anderson's name appeared as the largest donor, having contributed $1,000 with his wife, Kelsey. However, within minutes of making the donation, the couple changed their name to ‘Anonymous’. Zverev and Anderson faced each other six times on the ATP Tour, with the German prevailing in all their encounters.
Having reached the monetary goal, everything in excess of the trial costs will be donated to House of Ruth, a foundation for survivors of domestic violence. In the event that the appeal goes in Rothenberg’s favor and Zverev has to bear the costs, the entire amount received will go to the charity.
Growing up in a household where soccer was king, my earliest memories are filled with chants from packed stadiums and the rhythm of a ball being passed across neighborhood streets. But somewhere along the way, the quiet elegance and raw emotion of tennis pulled me in. What began as a curiosity became a lifelong passion; not just for the sport itself, but for the stories it tells: of grit, of heartbreak, of improbable comebacks and human resilience.
As a tennis writer, I bring the observational lens of someone who didn’t grow up in the sport, but fell in love with it as an outsider; a perspective that lets me see both its technical beauty and its emotional depth. Over the years working with TennisUpToDate, I’ve had the privilege of reaching more than 3.5 million readers worldwide, with one of my features ranking among the site’s top three articles.
With a background in storytelling and a creative mind always searching for meaning beyond the scoreboard, I aim to craft narratives that go deeper than results and rankings. Whether it’s a rising star breaking through or a veteran fighting off Father Time, I try to capture the heartbeat behind the headlines.
Thanks to the folks reaching out with words of support regarding my still ongoing legal battle with Zverev over my reporting from 2020, I really do appreciate it tons.
If you are able to support my crowdfunding efforts in this case, the link is here:
gofund.me/1d590cc5