Australian Open 2024: Alexander Zverev questions journalist after defeating Lukas Klein in five sets

Alexander Zverev has been locked in another icy encounter with a journalist as questions about his domestic violence trial continue to dominate the Australian Open.

Australian Open sixth-seed Alexander Zverev has hit back at a reporter after again being asked about his scheduled court hearing over an alleged assault.

Zverev won a fifth-set tiebreaker over Slovakia’s Lukas Klein on Thursday evening to move through to the third round of the tournament, triumphing 7-5 3-6 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (10-7) in 4hr 31min.

In his press conference following the match, the German was promptly asked whether he planned to attend his trial – which has been scheduled for May – in person.

“Wow. That’s a question,” Zverev replied.

“I just played four hours, 40 minutes. That’s not the first question I really want to hear, to be honest.

“I’ve got no idea. It’s in May.”

There had been reports out of Berlin that Zverev may not have to physically appear in court.

No further questions were taken in English during the press conference, which then moved to questions and answers in German.

Germany's Alexander Zverev celebrates his victory over Lukas Klein.

The 26-year-old was asked only about his match and his next opponent – 19-year-old American Alex Michelsen – during that part of the press conference.

Zverev is accused of assaulting former partner Brenda Patea in an argument in Berlin in May 2020 - allegations which he has denied.

Zverev was ordered to pay fines of 450,000 euro ($A750,000) over the alleged assault in October.

However, he contested the ruling which means the case now goes to trial.

Zverev had been peppered with questions about the trial during his press conference after his first-round win on Tuesday, including whether it was appropriate for him to remain on the ATP Player Advisory Council and if he should continue playing given the allegations.

RUSSIAN STAR DOUBLES DOWN ON ZVEREV QUESTIONS

Russian tennis star Daria Kasatkina has doubled down on her criticism of the sport’s handling of Alexander Zverev as he continues to play in the Australian Open ahead of a court case for an alleged assault on a former partner.

Kasatkina called out host broadcaster Channel 9 for showing Zverev’s first-round match on Tuesday and replied to a fan on X – formerly known as Twitter – on Wednesday: “If you’re a female, then I would advise you to make a research about the guy you wanna watch and think again”.

In her press conference following a second-round loss to American Sloane Stephens on Thursday evening, Kasatkina was further pressed for her views on the situation and how tennis was handling it.

Russia's Daria Kasatkina.

“It’s handling it in a pretty weird way, I would say,” Kasatkina said.

“I honestly think that this question should be addressed less to the Aus Open, more to the ATP itself, because of their policies he’s able to play.

“I saw that some guys were answering the questions yesterday. It was basically so scripted. It was so basic answers. So I think it should go straight to ATP.

“For sure, there is an issue. But you have to address it straight to the organization, I think.”

No women’s tennis shown on TV. They are playing on Rod Laver, prime time and for what😭 don’t wanna say who they actually showing now🙄

— Daria Kasatkina (@DKasatkina) January 16, 2024

Kasatkina – the women’s world No.13 – said while she did not have the “power to push” the ATP to address the matter, she believed it was important that they did.

“I think it’s important for humanity itself,” she said.

“We’re going a bit weird direction. I don’t like it. So I hope it’s going to change in one point. We see that it’s a lot of attention bringing up to this conversation and let’s see.

“For the moment, we see that nobody is answering the questions straight. So maybe at one point it will.”

Zverev – who goes by the nickname Sascha – has a court hearing scheduled in Germany for May but has denied the allegations against him.

“It’s not particularly about Sascha,” Kasatkina said.

“I think that in general, if there is a criminal issue or something, I don’t think it’s the right thing to promote the person. But it seems like it’s working a bit different.”