Germany’s Alexander Zverev reacts after a point during his men’s singles semi final match against … [+] Norway’s Casper Ruud on Court Philippe-Chatrier on day thirteen of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros Complex in Paris on June 7, 2024. (Photo by Dimitar DILKOFF / AFP) (Photo by DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Hours after settling a domestic abuse case following an out-of-court settlement with his former partner Brenda Patea, German tennis star Alexander Zverev advanced to the Roland Garros final.
The No. 4 seed put the matter behind him before he took the court with No. 7 Casper Ruud and then dispatched the Norwegian, 2-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 to advance to Sunday’s championship against No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz. The German banged out 19 aces to earn his first appearance in the Roland Garros final after three previous semifinal losses.
Zverev, 27, is seeking his first Grand Slam title, while the 21-year-old Alcaraz is bidding for his third.
Asked after the match if he felt he had moved on from the domestic abuse case, Zverev told reporters: “I told you so from the start. I told everybody. I’m happy that it’s over. Yeah, nothing else more to say. That’s it. Four years. I’m happy about that.”
Asked if he had any reservations that the case was settled as opposed to resolved by a court, the German added:
“That’s what dropping the case is. That is innocence. They’re not going to drop the case if you’re guilty at the end of the day. I don’t know what translations you have, but that’s what it means. Done. We move on. I never ever want to hear another question about the subject again. That goes out to everybody.”
Zverev agreed to pay fines of 150,000 euros ($162,000) to the state and 50,000 euros ($54,000) to charitable organizations.
Zverev was facing a charge of causing bodily harm to Patea during an argument in Berlin in May 2020. Prosecutors alleged 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 euros ($490,000). 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.”
PARIS, FRANCE – JUNE 01: Casper Ruud of Norway plays a forehand against Tomas Martin Etcheverry of … [+] Argentina in the Men’s Singles third round match during Day Seven of the 2024 French Open at Roland Garros on June 01, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
As for the match, after dropping the first set, Zverev took a two-sets-to-one lead with a forehand passing shot
Zverev then earned an early break in the fourth when Ruud netted a backhand to end a rally.
He held for 3-1 with a crazy squash shot forehand return after Ruud ripped a forehand off Zverev’s serve.
Zverev held for a 4-2 advantage with an ace up the T and then closed out the match on his serve.
(The AP contributed reporting)
