Alexander Zverev fined €450,000 for assaulting ex-partner

German tennis player, Alexander Zverev, has been fined by the Tiergarten District Court for being found guilty of a physical assault offence against his former girlfriend. The champion of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, and current number nine in the ATP rankings, is required to pay a compensation of 450,000 euros (c. $475,000), with instalments of €5,000 (c. $5,280) over a span of 90 days, as detailed by The Guardian.

Zverev ‘found guilty’ of assaulting ex

The incidents leading to his sentencing occurred in May 2020 in Berlin, and the victim, Brenda Patea, was the mother of his child. However, despite the verdict delivered by the Berlin Prosecution, Zverev maintains his innocence and, through his legal representation, has lodged an appeal in an attempt to have the conviction overturned.

“For my part, I completely reject the accusations. My lawyers are handling the matter, and I won’t comment further on it,” stated the tennis player in July when the accusations first came to light, and the legal proceedings were initiated.

His lawyer, Schertz Bergmann, deemed the sanction as “appalling” and indicated they would appeal it. “We cannot speak of a fair constitutional process. Mr. Zverev will take action against this using all possible means,” the attorney expressed in a statement.

Peculiarities in German justice system

The fine imposed has been issued through a ‘penalty order.’ This legal concept is considered in German legislation for cases deemed straightforward and where it is believed that there is sufficient evidence of the commission of the offence.

As Zverev has not accepted the penalty imposed by the court, the German justice system will soon open a period in which both he and the victim can provide their testimony in private before a public trial is held, following which the final sentence will be determined.