ATP Player Council member says ‘measures will be taken’ if Alexander Zverev is found guilty in upcoming trial
Alexander-Zverev-Miami-Open
A member of the ATP Player Council has claimed that “measures will be taken” if Alexander Zverev is found guilty in his upcoming domestic abuse trial.
World No 5 Zverev is set to stand trial later this month over an allegation of domestic abuse from an ex-partner – a charge that he has repeatedly denied since it emerged last October.
In a statement released after the initial announcement of the penalty order, Zverev’s lawyers stated: “Mr. Zverev rejects the accusation made against him.
“The allegations made by the complainant, on which the penalty order alone is based, have already been refuted by a forensic medical report by the recognized Berlin forensic physician Prof. Dr. Tsokos, Charite Berlin.”
The hearing will take place after the German contested an initial penalty order handed against him, though he will not have to attend – with the trial set to take place during the French Open.
The allegation against the former US Open finalist led to scrutiny when his role as an ATP Player Council member was announced in January.
In an interview with Clay magazine, Miguel Angel Reyes‐Varela – a doubles player, who is also on the Player Council – was asked about the case.
And he claimed that action would be taken if the German was found guilty, though added it would be “unfair” if any action was taken before the trial – and if he was found innocent.
“I have asked the ATP about their position on the matter, what they knew or what information they had. I did that at the Australian Open, prior to the first session we had as a group,” said Reyes‐Varela.
“I wanted to know what the institution’s position was, and how they would act. The ATP told me that in the end there is a judicial process that Sascha himself will have to resolve, and we will see with the final verdict.
“If he is declared innocent, imagine if he were to be removed from the Council right now. It would be somewhat unfair, wouldn’t it? If he is found guilty, then the measures will be taken.
“I’m not sure about the details of the case, I don’t know enough. It’s wrong of me not to be more informed.
“I have not talked to Sasha personally. I don’t know him very well, from a meeting and a couple of details there I have seen that he does want to contribute to the Council and tennis issues.
“From the outside, I think that would be a personal decision if, for him, the work in the Council would take time and effort that he would not want to devote to concentrate fully on his career and deal with his situation off the court.
“If that were the case, then I think that would be his decision and I think everybody would accept it, right? But from there to us saying that he cannot be there or that he should be put on hold – I think it is not up to us.”
Reyes-Valera is not the first player to be questioned by Clay regarding the situation, with Yannick Hanfmann also asked about it previously.
Zverev’s Davis Cup teammate Hanfmann said it was important to “respect” whatever verdict came out.
He said: “He has a trial in May. And I think that once he gets through that trial, whatever verdict may come out, I think that we have to respect that one. That’s a normal procedure… to wait if he’s guilty or not guilty.”