As Alexander Zverev stood at the microphone after his straightforward quarter-final win over Rafael Jodar, the German’s words were interrupted by a sudden and violent hailstorm hammering down on the Court Philippe-Chatrier roof. Spring showers had dampened Roland-Garros all week but this was different, a biblical downpour disrupting his victory lap. For many observers it was the sort of thing that was too on-the-nose to be scripted, the heavens opening in disapproval of one of the most controversial players on the tour.
Two things can be true at once: Zverev, a three-time slam finalist and the prohibitive favourite to lift the Coupe des Mousquetaires on Sunday, is the most complete player left in this draw and the best player of the last decade or more to have never won a major. But his presence on the tour, and at the business end of tournaments, makes a significant section of tennis observers distinctly uncomfortable – including some fans watching courtside, as a heckler at the 2025 Australian Open final made clear.
In October 2023 the German was issued with a penalty order and fined almost £400,000 for committing bodily harm against a previous girlfriend and the mother of his daughter, Brenda Patea, after she accused him of strangling her. Under German law, a penalty order is issued by a public prosecutor’s office when a trial is considered to be unnecessary, for example, in situations where there is compelling evidence to support one side.
He continued to play on the tour while legal proceedings rumbled on, while the ATP came under fire when he was appointed to the Players Advisory Council in January 2024, and Netflix was accused of helping to launder his reputation with a feature on the documentary Break Point which skirted the allegations that same month.
Zverev eventually reached out-of-court settlement with Patea in June 2024, during the French Open. The settlement meant legal proceedings were discontinued without a finding or admission of guilt, and Zverev, who described the allegations as “bullshit”, has repeatedly and strenuously denied them. Before the settlement the prospect of a trial hung over that year’s Roland-Garros, with the decision coming before Zverev played in the semi-finals.
He had previously been accused of domestic abuse by another former girlfriend, Olga Sharypova, who alleged in October 2020 and August 2021 that he had physically and emotionally abused her while they were together. Zverev denied the claims and a 15-month investigation by the ATP resulted in the body saying there was “insufficient evidence” to substantiate Sharypova’s allegations, and it announced it would not sanction the player.
But the ATP has rules which allow it to “provisionally suspend” players “from further participation in ATP tournaments pending a final determination of the criminal or civil proceeding” should they be charged under criminal or civil law in any jurisdiction. It failed to follow its own regulations.
Zverev maintains the presumption of innocence, but has faced persistent scrutiny over his continued presence on the tennis tour, while the ATP has been heavily criticised for its lack of policy on domestic violence and abuse. It only brought in a safeguarding policy in December 2025, more than five years after the allegations first surfaced.
The clouds hanging over the second seed have dampened the enthusiasm of some observers for this entire tournament, particularly as he appears set for a processional run to the title. He has spent less than 12 hours on court to reach the last four, compared to just shy of 16 for his semi-final opponent Jakub Mensik, 14 for Flavio Cobolli and 20 for Matteo Arnaldi, and is the only one of the quartet with any experience of this stage of a grand slam, having reached 11 semi-finals and three finals.
The seeming inevitability of his victory is reflected in the rife use of the phrase “anyone but Zverev” on social media, and the tone of glum resignation accompanying it.
In the past Zverev’s unquestioned ability has been matched by the reliability with which he collapses in big moments, abandoning his convictions and letting major trophies fall out of reach. He lost the US Open final in 2020 from two sets to love up, the 2024 French Open final from two sets to one up, and the Australian Open final in 2025 in three sets in which he was a mere passenger. His mind has been his biggest liability.
But his opponent this time will be entirely inexperienced and the match more than ever is his to lose. Regardless of the outcome, but particularly if he wins, the questioning around tennis’ handling of difficult ethical issues, and around his continued career and success, and the lack of scrutiny over it, will only continue.
And after the crumbling of the draw around him there will be suggestions that this Roland-Garros title, should he finally claim it, will be marked with an asterisk. None of the top players have stood in his way and as the clear favourite he has been able to simply sleepwalk towards victory. For various reasons, this men’s French Open may be one observers will be glad to forget.
