Even as the ATP Tour moved to its final stop, London, for the year, Alexander Zverev continued to fend off the physical abuse claims.
The 23-year-old German was recently accused of domestic violence by his ex-girlfriend Olga Sharypova. A former tennis player herself, Sharypova revealed that she even tried to commit suicide because of it.
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In London for the ATP Finals, Zverev reportedly read out a statement from his phone during a press meet on Friday denying the allegations again.
“We are all here to play tennis,” said Zverev, who won the ATP Finals in 2018.
“I am looking forward to playing, but in the last few days the focus has shifted to the off court (stuff).
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“Many people asked me why I kept my mouth shut and why I didn’t say anything. While I very much regret that these accusations are made, I have to stick to my initial thing of them being untrue and continue to deny them. These accusations are just unfounded, untrue.
“We had our ups and downs, but the way the relationship is described in the public is not how it was. That’s not who I am, that’s not how I was raised by my parents. It is not who I am as a person.
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“It makes me sad what impact such accusations can have on the sport, on the outside world and on myself as well. I truly apologise that the focus has shifted away from the sport.
“We all love tennis and that is why we are here. I am looking forward to playing in London for the last time. As I said, I have to keep denying them as they are unfounded and untrue.”
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For the round-robin stage, Zverev is part of Group Tokyo 1970, along with World No 1 Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev and Diego Schwartzman. The event will take place from November 15 to 22.
This is the last time that the season finale will take place at London’s O2 Arena: it will move to Turin, Italy next year.
