By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Alexander Zverev won't be facing disciplinary action from the ATP on domestic abuse allegations from his former girlfriend.
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Alexander Zverev won't be facing disciplinary action from the ATP on domestic abuse allegations from his former girlfriend.
The ATP announced after a 15-month investigation into allegations by Olga Sharypova that Zverev emotionally and physically abused her during their relationship, it found "insufficient evidence" to support the claims of abuse.
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"A major independent investigation into Alexander Zverev has found insufficient evidence to substantiate published allegations of abuse. As a result, no disciplinary action will be taken by ATP," the ATP said in a statement.
The men's tennis association said an independent investigation conducted interviews with Zverev, Sharypova and "24 other individuals" and did not substantiate abuse allegations.
"The investigation was carried out by The Lake Forest Group (LFG), a third-party investigator," the ATP said. "LFG conducted extensive interviews with both Sharypova and Zverev, and 24 other individuals including family and friends, tennis players, and other parties involved with the ATP Tour."
In its announcement the ATP noted Zverev has consistently denied all abuse allegations adding if any new evidence comes to light the ruling can be re-evaluated.
"This determination may however be re-evaluated should new evidence come to light, or should any legal proceedings reveal violations of ATP rules," the ATP said. "Zverev has consistently denied all allegations and supported ATP's investigation."
Olga Sharypova, Zverev's ex-girlfriend, alleges Zverev violently abused her during the 2019 Shanghai Rolex Masters tournament.
In her extensive interview with Slate.com, Sharypova said she and Zverev argued repeatedly in their hotel room on October 9th, 2019. The German told her not to attend his Shanghai match against Andrey Rublev, Sharypova said.
When he returned from his match on October 10th, 2019, Sharypova said she was getting out of the shower naked when Zverev demanded she leave their hotel room immediately and began berating her.
When Sharypova asked for a little time to get dressed, she said the request sent Zverev into a rage. Sharypova said Zverev repeatedly punched her while she tried to defend herself from the attack.
"He started to punch me, and this time I understand that I can’t be dough for punching," Sharypova told Slate.com. "I was just trying to protect myself. I'm already naked. I'm a woman, I don't have much power. And after my shower, I don't have time to get my clothes. I don't feel safe for one second."
Olympic gold-medal champion Zverev has denied all abuse allegations Sharypova has made calling them "simply not true." Zverev also filed lawsuits against Slate in both Germany and the United States claiming defamation.
Previously, Zverev said he hoped that the investigation would clear his name.
“Bloody finally, to be honest. I’ve been asking that myself for months now,” Zverev said after the ATP announced the investigation. “I’ve been asking that myself to do that since London last year because it’s very hard for me as you guys know to clear my name.
"And only with something like this I can completely. Because I have been in court in Germany, which I won the case against the author and the publication which the author is ignoring right now which I think will have a lot of consequences for him. But I asked myself for a very long time for this to happen.”