Sports

Tennis Star’s Speech Interrupted by Heckles About Alleged Domestic Abuse at Australia Open

HIJACKED SPEECH

A woman in the crowd interrupted tennis player Alexander Zverev‘s losing speech.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 26:  Alexander Zverev of Germany speaks to crowd during presentations after Jannik Sinner of Italy  wins the 2025 Men's Singles Final at the Australian Open grand slam tennis tournament at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia on January 26, 2025 (Photo by Mark Avellino/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Anadolu/Anadolu via Getty Images

A woman at the Australia Open interrupted German tennis player Alexander Zverev‘s losing speech while seemingly referencing allegations that he abused two of his exes. After losing his third Grand Slam final Sunday, Zverev stepped up to give his speech when a woman shouted from the crowd before he could begin. “Australia believes Olya and Brenda! Australia believes Olya and Brenda,” the woman appeared to say, referencing former partners Olya Sharapova and Brenda Patea who both accused him of domestic abuse in the past. According to The Athletic, Zverev looked into the crowd and smiled, with boos and applauses following. Afterward, the player was asked about the interruption, to which he said: “I believe there are no more accusations. There haven’t been for, what, nine months now. Good for her, I think she was the only one in the stadium who believed anything in that moment.” Sharypova, who also was a tennis player, accused him of abusing her repeatedly in 2019. Patea, the mother of his child, alleged an incident where she was pushed and choked by Zverev during an argument. Zverev has denied any wrongdoing in both cases.

Read it at The Athletic

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