Alexander Zverev "completely" rejects latest assault allegation amid pending penalty order

Alexander Zverev made his first statement Monday since news broke last Friday that the former world No. 3 has been accused of assaulting his ex-girlfriend Brenda Patea. The Berlin prosecutor’s office has applied for a penalty order against the German and if issued, Zverev has two weeks to appeal.

Speaking at the Hamburg European Open, an ATP 500 event, Zverev refuted the claim made by the mother of his daughter with a brief response.

“I completely reject the allegations. My lawyers will take care of the matter,” he said during a press conference as reported by Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA). “I won’t say any more than that.”

Patea is the second former partner to come forward with domestic violence allegations against the 2020 US Open finalist. On January 31, the ATP concluded its investigation into accusations made by Olya Sharypova in October 2020 by stating they were “unable to substantiate the allegations of abuse,” though noted that “this determination may however be reevaluated should new evidence come to light.”

Seeded No. 4, Zverev faces Alex Molcan of Slovakia in his Hamburg opener on Tuesday. Last week, he beat Molcan in the first round of Bastad but fell to eventual champion Andrey Rublev in the quarterfinals.