Alexander Zverev's physical abuse trial set for May after penalty order from ex-girlfriend Brenda Patea

Alexander Zverev will go on trial in May for physical abuse, a Berlin criminal court has confirmed to DW as the German ace gets ready to begin his Australian Open campaign on Tuesday against Dominik Koepfer.

Zverev is accused of 'physically abusing a woman and damaging her health during an argument'. The woman in question who levied the allegations and the subsequent penalty order is ex-girlfriend Brenda Patea. Throughout Zverev has 'rejected' the allegations.

"The main hearing in the case will begin in May 2024. We will announce the details in due course." a spokesperson for the court told DW. In October last year, Zverev was issued the penalty order by the court and fined €450,000 ($492,700). In Germany, penalty orders are given when the judge believes the case is straightforward and doesn't warrant a trial. The accused can contest this which is why Zverev will now go to trial.

It is not the first time that he has faced allegations surrounding domestic abuse with his ex-girlfriend Olga Sharypova also accusing him similarly before Patea took out the penalty order. An internal investigation was closed by the ATP due to insufficient evidence and he has been asked and responded occasionally around the allegations.

"Anybody that has semi-standard IQ levels knows what this is all about," Zverev said at the time surrounding this matter with Patea. It is unsure yet as well how it will impact Zverev on court with the trial potentially coinciding with the French Open if in May and if he attends in person, he may have to miss Roland Garros. But with details out in due course, it will soon be found out whether this will.