Tennis world No 9 Alexander Zverev is fined nearly £400,000 by German court for ‘abuse’ of mother of his child in an argument which saw him ‘physically abuse her and damage her health’

• Tennis star Alexander Zverev has been fined £400,000 by a German court
• He is accused of physically abusing his ex-girlfriend Brenda Patea in 2020 

Alexander Zverev has been ordered by a Berlin court to pay a fine reportedly worth close to £400,000 for physically abusing the mother of his child, the German tennis player’s lawyers said, adding that he would contest the court order.

The former world number two ‘rejects the accusation made against him’ by his former girlfriend Brenda Patea that she was a victim of bodily harm during an argument in 2020, his lawyers said. 

Zverev’s representatives Schertz Bergmann confirmed the German had lodged an objection, calling the penalty order ‘scandalous’.

‘The procedure is scandalous, there can be no question of a fair, constitutional procedure,’ their statement read. ‘Mr Zverev will take action against this using all means possible.’ 

The Guardian reported that Zverev has been fined £391,5000 by the Tiergarten District Court in Berlin – which is set to hear from the player and plaintiffs before a primary hearing takes place.

Tennis star Alexander Zverev has been handed a penalty order for allegedly abusing his ex-girlfriend

The German player is accused of physically abusing Brenda Patea during an argument in 2020

The report added that a public trial is likely to be scheduled after Zverev contested the penalty order and that Zverev’s ex-girlfriend has joined the public prosecutor as co-plaintiff. 

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

Patea, a German model, is said to have dated Zverev for less than 12 months.

The world no 9 had spoken about the allegations in July, saying: ‘From my side: I completely reject the allegations. My lawyers are taking care of the matter. I won’t say anything more about it.’

In January, the Association of Tennis Professionals (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.

Zverev is currently playing at the Paris Masters, where he beat Marton Fucsovics 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 on Tuesday. He is set to face Ugo Humbert in the second round on Wednesday.

Patea, who is a German model, is said to have dated Zverev for less than 12 months

Zverev, currently competing at the Paris Masters, has launched an objection against the penalty order

In September, Zverev stopped his US Open clash against Jannik Sinner after complaining to the umpire that a fan had used an Adolf Hitler slur towards him. 

‘He just said the most famous Hitler phrase there is. It is unacceptable,’ Hamburg-born Zverev told British umpire James Keothavong after hearing a slur from the crowd.

Following the game, Zverev told a reporter that the supposed fan had been singing the ‘anthem of Hitler’ – the banned first  verse of the original German National anthem. 

‘He started singing the anthem of Hitler that was back in the day. It was `Deutschland über alles’ and it was a bit too much,’ the Hamburg-native said. 

‘I love when fans are emotional. But I think me being German and not really proud of that history, it’s not really a great thing to do and I think him sitting in one of the front rows, I think a lot of people heard it. So if I just don’t react, I think it’s bad from my side,’ he added. 

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