Zverev settles abuse case before French semi

Alexander Zverev has agreed to a settlement after the mother of his child accused him of physical abuse and a German court closed the case Friday, the French Open semifinalist’s lawyers said.

The agreement, according to German media, includes a monetary condition of €200,000 ($217,820), with the player not found guilty of any wrongdoing.

“The process against Alexander Zverev was shelved today by the court with the agreement of the prosecutor’s office and Ms Brenda Patea,” the player’s lawyers said in a statement. “Alexander Zverev agreed to this … in order to shorten the process especially in the interest of the child they have together. Alexander Zverev remains innocent.”

The decision comes hours before Zverev, 27, faces Casper Ruud in the French Open semifinals Friday.

Zverev had been ordered last year by the Berlin-Tiergarten court to pay an undisclosed fine in the case with his lawyers contesting the court order.

The world No. 4 had rejected the accusation made by his former girlfriend that she was physically abused during an argument in 2020.

The pair had a daughter in 2021, though by that time they were no longer together.

In January 2023, the ATP closed an investigation that was launched after another ex-girlfriend, tennis player Olga Sharypova, accused Zverev of domestic abuse. The ATP cited insufficient evidence as its reason for dropping the case.

The ATP said in a statement that it was aware of Friday’s settlement and was reviewing the information.