This is getting awkward.
Alexander Zverev, the German tennis star set to face trial in May on a domestic abuse charge, keeps narrowly avoiding elimination from the Australian Open. His continued participation in the tournament allows the sport to skirt a subject that no one wants to talk about.
After escaping tight tiebreakers and five-set battles, Zverev, 26, recently won a fifth-set tiebreaker for the second time in a week, defeating the British No 1 Cameron Norrie, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(3). His strong serve clinched the victory for him.
Despite the allegations and upcoming trial in Berlin, the subject is rarely brought up during Zverev’s televised matches or in interviews. He is set to face the world No 2, Carlos Alcaraz, in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
The latest allegations come from Brenda Patea, the mother of Zverev’s daughter Mayla. She has accused Zverev of physically assaulting her. Zverev has denied any wrongdoing and a trial has been scheduled for late May, at the same time as the French Open.
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Another former girlfriend, the Russian former tennis player Olya Sharypova, also made similar abuse allegations against Zverev. However, the ATP decided to take no further action following an investigation.
Zverev has continued to participate in tournaments despite the ongoing legal proceedings. He has also expressed his desire to focus on issues related to the structure of the tour and the playing demands that athletes face.
However, the accusations against him continue to go unaddressed. At this Australian Open, the subject remains largely unspoken.
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(Top photo: Julian Finney/Getty Images)