Alexander Zverev, the controversial French Open tennis star who was accused of strangling his ex-girlfriend, has reached an out-of-court settlement with his former partner, which does not include an admission of guilt.
The 27-year-old German faces Casper Ruud in the Roland-Garros semi-finals today (Friday) as he looks to reach the final of the Grand Slam event in Paris.
Zverev’s participation at the French Open – as well as his other appearances on the ATP Tour – have been controversial since he was given a penalty order last October and fined £390,000 for allegedly physically abusing his former partner.
The Roland-Garros fourth seed has always strongly denied any wrongdoing and it has now been confirmed that the domestic abuse case has been discontinued.
‘There has been a settlement between the defendant and the complainant,’ The Tiergarten District Court in Berlin said.
‘This settlement is not part of this trial though and the court is not part of this settlement.’
Zverev’s representatives, Anna Sophie Heuchemer and Katharina Dierlamm, have argued that the penalty order issued in October should now be considered ‘groundless’.
Zverev, meanwhile, who was not required to appear in person at the court, always had faith that the right decision would eventually be made.
‘I believe in the German system,’ Zverev said ahead of his opening French Open match against Rafael Nadal, which he ended up winning in straight sets.
‘I do believe in the truth, as well. I do know what I did, I do know what I didn’t do. That’s – at the end of the day – what’s going to come out, and I have to trust in that.’
Meanwhile, the court told BBC Sport: ‘The decision is not a verdict and it is not a decision about guilt or innocence.
‘One decisive factor for the court decision was that the witness has expressed her wish to end the trial.
‘The defendant agreed to the termination of the case.’
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