Google News Martina Navratilova strongly reacts to Alexander Zverev facing new abuse allegations
by DZEVAD MESIC
Tennis icon Martina Navratilova is calling for "a real investigation" against Alexander Zverev after the German was hit with a new allegation of abuse. This week, German's RTL reported that the public prosecutor's office in Berlin is seeking a penalty order against Zverev.
The allegation of abuse was made by Zverev's ex-girlfriend Brenda Patea, with whom the German tennis star shares a child. A few years ago, Zverev was accused of domestic abuse by his ex-girlfriend Olya Sharypova - but the ATP's investigation which concluded earlier this year determined that there was "insufficient evidence” to substantiate claims made by Sharypova.
"And this needs to be properly addressed and actually investigated rather than the BS investigation by @atptour to nowhere," Navratilova tweeted.
And this needs to be properly addressed and actually investigated rather than the BS investigation by @atptour to nowhere.
— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) July 20, 2023
Navratilova calls for 'a real investigation against' Zverev
In 2021 October, the ATP announced an investigation into the claims made by Zverev's ex-girlfriend. 15 months later, the ATP cleared Zverev and the German tennis star didn't face any sanctions.
“Based on a lack of reliable evidence and eyewitness reports, in addition to conflicting statements by Sharypova, Zverev and other interviewees, the investigation was unable to substantiate the allegations of abuse, or determine that violations of ATP’s On-Site Offenses or Player Major Offenses rules took place," the ATP said in January.
After the ATP investigation cleared him, Zverev was glad and claimed it was a third-party that found him not guilty of domestic abuse. “This decision marks a third, neutral, third-party arbiter who has reviewed all relevant information and made a clear and informed decision on this matter in my favor.
In addition to the ATP’s independent investigation, I have also initiated court proceedings in Germany and Russia, both of which I have won. I am grateful that this is finally resolved and my priority now is recovering from injury and concentrating on what I love most in this world - tennis," Zverev said earlier this year.