Alexander Zverev insists he is NOT distracted from the French Open by his hearing for domestic abuse next week after being accused of assaulting his ex-girlfriend

Alexander Zverev has insisted that his impending hearing for domestic abuse will be no distraction ahead of the French Open.

The world No4 was fined £390,000 by a German court and given a penalty order last year after being accused of assaulting his ex-girlfriend, Brenda Patea. The 27-year-old is contesting the charge and the hearing begins next Thursday.

After confirming that he will not be required to attend in person, Zverev was asked whether the court date is playing on his mind.

‘Not at all,’ he said. ‘I believe in the German system. I believe in the truth, as well. I know what I did, I know what I didn't do.

'At the end of the day, that's what's going to come out, and I have to trust in that.

Alexander Zverev has insisted he is not distracted from the French Open by his impending court hearing for domestic abuse 

Brenda Patea described her former boyfriend as 'jealous' and claimed that this could result in 'repeated physical violence' against her. Zverev has denied all wrongdoing against him

‘I'm not going to lose this procedure. There's absolutely no chance I am. That's why I can play calmly, and I think my results have been showing it.’

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Alexander Zverev 'is to go on trial in May' to face 'abuse' allegations after his ex-girlfriend claimed tennis star 'choked her against a wall in a row days before proposing' and 'raged if she moved his cuddly toys'

In May 2020, Patea alleged that the former world No 2 'choked her during an argument' and was a 'jealous man'. 

A statement by his representatives, Schertz Bergmann, called the penalty order fine 'scandalous', and hinted that the player would take action 'using all means possible'. 

Patea is thought to have dated Zverev for less than 12 months between 2019 and the birth of their daughter Mayla in 2021. 

The German model described a 'mixture of shame, fear of Zverev's lawyers, and concern for her child' as playing a role in why she delayed requesting the court order, but speaking to Süddeutsche Zeitung, Patea said that her decision to speak out has stemmed from a bid to set an example for victims of assault. 

Ms Patea claims that during the confrontation, Zverev 'pushed (her) against the wall and choked her during an argument in the hallway'.

This led to 'pain in the throat and neck area, and difficulty swallowing', which she discussed when confiding in two friends after the incident. 

Zverev has kept tight-lipped for the most part on the allegations but described the court penalty order placed on him last November as 'complete bulls***', before adding: 'Anybody that has semi-standard IQ levels knows what this is all about.' 

The former world No 2 and the German model were together for less than 12 months 

Zverev faces 14-time champion Rafael Nadal in a showstopping first-round match on Monday, and said he will not be underestimating a player who has looked shadow of his former self. ‘For me, in my mind, I'm going to play peak Rafa Nadal,’ he insisted. 

‘That's what I expect him to be. I expect him to be at his absolute best. I expect him to play the best tennis he's played in a long time on this court.

'There's always been discussion. I mean, [in] 2022 I remember he came into Roland Garros not winning Monte-Carlo, not winning Madrid, not winning Rome. 

'He came into this tournament, everybody was like, "oh, he's a big question mark, he's this and that." He came and dominated the entire tournament.

'I think he's going to be at his best, and that's my mindset going into this match'.

Zverev was asked who he felt was more unlucky to be playing the other at the earliest stage possible.  

He said: 'I think both of us, if we would have a choice, we would choose differently, for sure. 

Zverev won his second Rome title in a confidence boost coming into Roland Garros 

He will face Rafael Nadal in the first round, a legend he describes as being in his 'peak'

'I really wanted to play him one more time, one more time. Because I didn't want my last memory to be me rolling off in a wheelchair off Philippe Chatrier. I really wanted to play him here. 

'I did not want to play him in the first round (smiling). I wanted to play him in the semifinals, finals, a later stage of the tournament. 

'But at the end of the day, he's not seeded, it is how it is, and I think we're both prepared for a tough battle.'