"She was the only one who believed anything in that moment": Alexander Zverev responds to Australian Open domestic abuse heckler

Alexander Zverev not only had the fact he had lost the Australian Open Final to deal with but also a heckler who alluded to his previous domestic abuse allegations against ex-girlfriends Brenda Patea and Olya Sharypova.

The woman in the crowd who was quickly escorted out managed to interrupt the speech of the World No.2 shouting: “Australia Believes Olya and Brenda! Australia Believes Olya and Brenda!”

But it was a sarcastic tone from Zverev of good for her in response speaking in the press conference. He said he doesn't believe there has been any further accusations and that any previous ones have been quashed.

He said she was the only one who believed what was being said and that he won't speak about the topic again. "I believe there are no more accusations. There haven't been for, what, nine months now. Good for her. I think she was the only one in the stadium who believed anything in that moment. If that's the case, good for her," said Zverev.

Read also

(VIDEO) "Australia Believes Olya and Brenda": Alexander Zverev interrupted by heckler referencing alleged abuse cases

"I think I've done everything I can, and I'm not about to open that subject again."

Zverev settled his case with Brenda Patea just before Wimbledon last year and was forced to pay costs. Zverev agreed to pay fines of £169k (€200k). He was also accused by his ex-girlfriend Olya Sharypova with an ATP investigation finding the evidence to be insufficient based on incidents in Shanghai.

But while he never faced criminal proceedings for Sharypova, he still has had a dark cloud hanging over him from the media and wider tennis world about the accusations which Zverev refutes. Many called for him to get banned before his penalty order was quashed but due to ATP rules, he still played and held a role on the Players Council.

The woman in question succeeded in part in getting people talking about it again but Zverev is very much of the mindset that she had her five minutes now it's time to move on.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Unlock your ultimate tennis experience—subscribe today for exclusive access to top stories.

Subscribe