Alexander Zverev's Past Allegations Surface During US Open Broadcast
Commentators addressed domestic abuse accusations against the tennis star during coverage of his victory, prompting awkward moments.
During the world feed broadcast of Alexander Zverev's U.S. Open victory against Ben Shelton on Sunday, commentators drew attention to past domestic abuse allegations leveled against the German tennis player.
Mary Carillo, a former professional player and current sportscaster, directly addressed the accusations made by two former girlfriends, both of which Zverev has denied. "Two different women, one whom is the mother of Zverev’s daughter, accused Zverev of domestic violence, an accusation he’s vigorously denied," Carillo stated.
Carillo noted that Zverev claimed his "innocence has been proven" and that he was "exonerated," but asserted "that’s not true." She added that these allegations resurfaced when Zverev won the French Open earlier in the year. According to Carillo, Zverev "got booed when he took the court" for the U.S. Open final, an unusual occurrence for a major final, suggesting that "this guy continues to wear a black hat to many in the game."
An investigation into one accuser's claims found insufficient evidence to substantiate them. A separate German criminal case involving his other ex-girlfriend concluded with a settlement without a finding of guilt.
Zverev, the top seed, defeated No. 8 Ben Shelton in four sets, 6-3, 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-2, to capture his second major championship. He had previously reached the U.S. Open final in 2020, losing to Dominic Thiem after holding a two-set lead.
Following his victory, Zverev celebrated with friends, family, and his team at Tao Downtown Restaurant before attending a party at Tao Nightclub in New York City.