Alexander Zverev allegations explained: What to know before French Open final

Alexander Zverev is one match from his first Grand Slam title Sunday at Roland Garros. Whether he wins Sunday at Roland Garros or not, the questions that have trailed him to every major final will still be there after the match.

The German No. 2 seed beat Czech Jakub Mensik 7-5, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in the French Open semifinals Friday. He faces 14th-ranked Flavio Cobolli of Italy in the final.

It is Zverev’s fourth major final and the first since the 2025 Australian Open, when he lost in straight sets to Jannik Sinner. As Zverev stepped up to accept his runner-up trophy in Melbourne, a fan in Rod Laver Arena shouted “Australia believes Olya and Brenda.” The names belong to two of Zverev’s former partners who have accused him of abuse. Zverev stood silent on the podium. The crowd drowned the heckler out with applause.

For nearly six years, Zverev’s career has played out alongside allegations he has denied at every turn.

What are the allegations against Alexander Zverev?

The first accusations came from Olga Sharypova, a former junior player and ex-girlfriend.

In October 2020, Sharypova posted on Instagram that she was a victim of domestic violence. She later named Zverev in interviews with Russian outlet Championat and German tabloid Bild, then in deeper reporting by journalist Ben Rothenberg published in Racquet magazine and Slate.

Sharypova’s account described multiple incidents. They include an attack at a New York hotel before the 2019 U.S. Open, during which, she said, Zverev sat on her face with a pillow until she struggled to breathe. She also said after another attack at the 2019 Laver Cup in Geneva that she attempted suicide by injected Zverev’s insulin. She also said there was another alleged assault during the 2019 Shanghai Masters.

Zverev denied the allegations and called them “unfounded.” Sharypova did not press criminal charges. The ATP opened an investigation in October 2021 and closed it 15 months later, in January 2023, citing insufficient evidence. Zverev was not sanctioned.

What happened in the Brenda Patea case?

Patea, a former girlfriend and the mother of Zverev’s daughter (born in March 2021), alleged he caused her bodily harm during an argument in Berlin in May 2020. In October 2023, a Berlin court issued a penalty order and a 450,000-euro fine. Zverev appealed and a public trial was scheduled.

The trial began May 31, 2024. A week later it was discontinued under a settlement agreement that required Zverev to pay 200,000 euros. His lawyers said he agreed to the resolution “solely in order to shorten the proceedings, above all in the interests of their child,” and they stress he is “considered innocent.” Under German law, the discontinuation is not a conviction.

What has Alexander Zverev said about the allegations?

Zverev has denied wrongdoing throughout. At the 2024 Australian Open, he took aim at journalists he accused of trying to “sell a story” rather than report one. Asked about the heckling moment in Melbourne, he gave a clipped answer.

“I believe there are no more accusations. There haven’t been for, what, nine months now,” Zverev said. “I think I’ve done everything I can and I am not about to open that subject again.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alexander Zverev allegations before French Open men’s final