Zverev settles domestic violence case, reaches Roland-Garros final on same day

Paris: Alexander Zverev’s day began with the announcement of an out-of-court settlement that brought an end to a domestic violence case in his native Germany.

On Friday evening (Paris time), he moved a win away from his first grand slam title with a 2-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Casper Ruud in the Roland-Garros semi-finals.

Alexander Zverev has settled his court case in Germany.Credit: Getty Images

Hours before Zverev’s semi-final began, word emerged from Berlin that a district court there ended a trial stemming from an ex-girlfriend’s accusation of assault during a 2020 argument. The resolution came with the agreement of state prosecutors and lawyers for Zverev and his former partner, Brenda Patea, German news agency DPA reported.

“I told you so from the start; I told everybody. I’m happy that it’s over,” Zverev said at his post-match news conference. “Yeah, nothing else more to say.”

When a reporter tried to follow up on the topic, Zverev said: “We move on. I never, ever want to hear another question about the subject again. That goes out to everybody.”

Lawyers for Zverev, who was not required to appear in court during the proceeding, issued a statement saying there was no finding of admission or guilt. A lawyer for Patea did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

Zverev agreed to pay fines of 150,000 euros ($246,000) to the state and €50,000 ($82,000) to charitable organisations.

The world No. 4 was facing a charge of causing bodily harm, with prosecutors alleging he pushed her against a wall and choked her. Zverev always denied any wrongdoing.

The matter came to trial after Zverev contested a penalty order issued last October, including a requirement for him to pay fines amounting to €450,000 ($740,000). Penalty orders are used in Germany as a means of resolving some criminal cases without going to trial if the suspect does not contest the order.

Judge Barbara Lüders told the court she was dropping the case after lawyers for Zverev and Patea held talks in recent days about ending their disputes “at all levels in which there were disagreements in recent years”.

The former couple wanted to end their public feud and “look forward” also in regard to “their joint custody of their child”, Lüders said.

Zverev had lost in the Roland Garros semi-finals each of the past three years, including against No. 7 Ruud in 2023. In 2022, Zverev left Court Philippe Chatrier in a wheelchair after tearing three right ankle ligaments during his semi against Rafael Nadal.

Zverev will play world No.3 Carlos Alcaraz in the final.Credit: Getty Images

The opponent in Zverev’s second career major final — he was the runner-up at the 2020 US Open — will be No.3 Carlos Alcaraz, who eliminated Jannik Sinner 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 earlier Friday.

Zverev leads the head-to-head series with Alcaraz 5-4, including a victory over the two-time major champion in the 2022 French Open quarter-finals.

Having already captured a Wimbledon and US Open trophy at the age of 21, Spaniard Alcaraz became the youngest man to reach grand slam finals on all three of the sport’s surfaces and will look to emulate several compatriots by winning Roland-Garros.

“I have a special feeling for this tournament, because I remember when I finished school I’m running to my home just to put the TV on and watch the matches here in the French Open,” Alcaraz said.

“Of course, Rafa Nadal dominated this tournament for 14-15 years. It’s unbelievable. I wanted to put my name on that list of the Spanish players who won this tournament ... [Juan Carlos] Ferrero, [Carlos] Moya, [Albert] Costa, legends of our sport.

“If I want to be one of the best players in the world, I have to be a good player in every surface, like Roger [Federer] did, Novak [Djokovic], Rafa, [Andy] Murray. The best players have had success on every surface.”

Norway’s Casper Ruud was affected by a stomach complaint.Credit: Getty Images

In his semi-final, Zverev only was able to take control after Ruud began experiencing stomach issues. Ruud is a three-time major finalist, including losing the titles at Roland-Garros to Nadal in 2022 and to Novak Djokovic in 2023.

In Zverev’s lone previous slam final, in a nearly empty stadium in New York amid the COVID-19 pandemic, he took a two-set lead over Dominic Thiem, but could not close the deal.

“I’ve said it before and I’m going to say it now again: I was not ready. I was not ready to win my first grand slam final. I was not mature enough. I was maybe too much of a kid still. I didn’t know what the occasion means. And that’s why I lost,” Zverev said Friday. “I’m 27 years old now. So definitely not a kid any more. Already getting older. If not now, then when?”

“I’m in the final; I haven’t won yet. But I just want to play my best tennis and give myself the best chance.

“If I am able to do that, and if I am able to lift that trophy, it will mean the world to me.”

AP

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