Roland-Garros winner Zverev refuses to discuss domestic violence accusations, ends interview abruptly

Alexander Zverev, fresh off his Roland-Garros victory, shut down questions about domestic violence allegations during a post-match interview, asserting his innocence had been proven.

During an interview with L'Équipe, Zverev, the world number 3, was asked about public reservations concerning accusations of psychological and physical abuse by two ex-partners. After an initial "warm and cheerful" exchange, Zverev became tense. "Wait, first of all, this is not that kind of interview. Also, you know that it has been proven that the accusations were false?" he responded.

When pressed further about the coverage of his win, particularly why he wasn't on the front page of L'Équipe, Zverev was evasive. "This is the second time you've asked me a question about this. It's not my decision. I've done everything I could and my innocence has been proven," he stated, before his agent intervened. The interview concluded abruptly when Zverev decided to stop, saying, "I don't know. I think we should stop, it's better."

The article also points out that for the first time since 2005, the Roland-Garros winner was not featured on the front page of L'Équipe. The sports daily instead prioritized the historic handball championship win by Messines, a French club. This editorial choice has led some observers to link it to the ongoing accusations against the 29-year-old German player, which have shadowed his career for years.