‘Needs To Be Done With’: Stephens Comments On ATP Handling Of Zverev Allegations
Sloane Stephens has spoken about Alexander Zverev continuing to be promoted by the ATP despite the abuse allegations surrounding him.
Both Stephens and Zverev are still in the Australian Open. Stephens beat Daria Kasatkina in her last match, while Zverev survived a five-set thriller against Lukas Klein. The German came through in a 10-point tiebreak.
However, most of the attention surrounding the 2020 US Open champion has been about the abuse allegations made against him. This is after it was announced that Zverev’s trial for the allegations will be held in May.
This has led to the 26-year-old being asked about the situation in each press conference since, and that has left him unimpressed. For instance, Zverev reacted angrily after being asked about it after his last match.
ATP players have not wanted to say much about Zverev’s situation. However, Stephens did give a more detailed answer when asked the question. The 30-year-old began by saying she doubted it would have been handled the same way on the WTA Tour.
Zverev’s Rivals Tsitsipas, Ruud & Norrie Refuse To Address His Domestic Violence Case
Tuesday, 16 January 2024
“I think that the ATP kind of beats their own drum. Yeah, they do what they do on that side. Would that happen on the WTA Tour? Probably not.”
Stephens then said she doubted anything would change until the trial takes place, pointing to the inaction ever since allegations against Zverev first came to light.
“For three years no one has done anything, so I don’t think another five months of waiting for a criminal trial I guess to happen is going to change much on either side.”
The 2017 US Open champion also said that the issue needed to be dealt with for both the tour and the fans.
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“Don’t beat women up then, simple”- Alexander Zverev faces backlash from fans as he calls out journalist for pressing him over domestic abuse trial
Tennis fans have reacted angrily to German tennis star Alexander Zverev’s response to a question on his upcoming domestic abuse trial based on a complaint from her ex-girlfriend Brenda Patea.
A Berlin criminal court is hearing the allegations of domestic violence leveled against him by Patea and he has to appear in May this year to contest the charges. Zverev did not want the topic to be the first question of his post-match press conference after a marathon five-set win over qualifier Lukas Klein.
“Wow. That’s a question. I just played for four hours, 40 minutes. That’s not the first question I really want to hear, to be honest. I’ve got no idea. It is in May,” Zverev snapped at his post-match presser.
Tennis fans and commentators seized on his curt reply stating that the German, who won the men’s singles gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, should stop abusing women in the first place if he does not want to answer such questions.
“Well don’t beat women up then, simple,” said Peter Pan, a writer who follows the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) closely wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
It was the only English-language question in Zverev’s press conference as the English portion of his interaction with the media was cut short after that
Some fans pointed out that women also do not want to be assaulted and if he does not like to hear such questions he should treat his opposite gender in a proper way.
“Ya and your girlfriends didn’t want to be assaulted but hey we don’t always get what we want do we,” a tennis fan said on X.
“Not a question you want to hear?? then don’t try to strangle a woman,” another fan wrote.
Here are some more reactions from fans on the episode.
Alexander Zverev has a 6-1 win-loss record so far in 2024
Alexander Zverev has had an eventful opening to his 2024 season. He has won six matches and lost only one outing so far this year.
Zverev beat Hubert Hurkacz of Poland in three sets at the United Cup final. He saved two match points in his match against the Pole coming from a set down to clinch the tie.
In the process, he helped Germany to edge past Poland to win the United Cup. He beat Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece in two straight sets in the quarterfinals of the United Cup. His only loss so far in the year came at the semi-finals of the United Cup where he lost to Australia’s Alex di Minaur in three sets.
Zverev won two matches at the group stage in the United Cup, both in three sets, first against Laurenzo Sonego of Italy and then against Adrian Mannarino of France. He has however had a tough start to the Australian Open losing three sets in total in two matches against unfancied opponents.
The German beat his fellow country-man Dominik Goepfer in four sets in the first round. He battled past Slovakia’s Klein to keep his Australian Open dreams alive.
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