German court drops Zverev assault case as he contests Roland Garros

A German court on Friday dropped a case against Alexander Zverev accusing him of assaulting his ex-girlfriend after a settlement was agreed as the tennis star competes at Roland Garros.

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Zverev's former partner Brenda Patea "was no longer interested in pursuing the prosecution", said Inga Wahlen, deputy Berlin criminal courts spokeswoman.

The plaintiff and the tennis star had decided "they would like to resolve this smouldering conflict peacefully, also in the interests of their child", she said.

He had agreed to pay 200 000 euros ($217 000) as part of the settlement, with most of it going into state coffers and the remainder to a fund for charitable organisations, she said.

Lawyers for Zverev – the world No. 4 player who will compete in the semifinals at Roland Garros later on Friday – stressed in a statement he was "still considered innocent".

The appeal hearing opened last week in Berlin but Zverev had been absent from the proceedings.

The German had received a 450 000-euro fine in October over the allegations but he appealed the ruling.

The 27-year-old was accused of "briefly" choking Patea "with both hands" in May 2020, according to the court.

The alleged incident took place in the stairwell of her apartment building in Berlin, the court said.

Patea is said to have suffered "difficulty breathing and significant pain" as a result of the assault.

Zverev rejected the accusations.