Alexander Zverev’s ex-girlfriend accuses him of abuse, tennis star denies
German Tennis Star and former US Open Runner-up Alexander Zverev
Tennis’ Nexgen sensation Alexander Zverev’s girlfriend says he attacked her ahead of the United States Open last year, all allegation the player says is “simply not true.” Olya Sharypova, 23 alleges the German tried to strangle her with a pillow in hotel room in New York which made her fled barefoot from the room. Screengrabs of Whatsapp messages sent by Sharypova and shown to CNN Sport apparently suggest the alleged abuse took place on Aug 23, 2019.
Sharypova disclosed the incident without naming Zverev in an Instagram post on Thursday but has confirmed she was talking about his former boyfriend in an interview with Russian sports website Championat. The 23-year old US open runner up in 2020, Zverev contest the charges levelled again him by former partner.
“I very much regret that she makes such statements because the accusations are simply not true,” Zverev posted on social media platforms on Thursday. We had a relationship, but it ended a long time ago. Why Olga is making these accusations now, I just don’t know. I really hope that the two of us will find a way to deal with each other again in a reasonable and respectful way.”
Questioning Zverev, Sharypova talking to CNN asked why Zverev did not reach out to her before rejecting her comments on twitter.
“I do not want to say that he is a bad person. I’m just saying that he did a terrible thing to me,” she said in a statement to CNN.
“A huge number of girls suffer from cruelty, violence and abuse from men and do not tell their stories to anyone. Some are afraid, some just live with it, others simply cannot talk about this topic. It hurts me that in the 21st century we still have not come to the conclusion that a woman is also a person, a human. We must be respected, not treated like floor rags.”
CNN team twice contacted Zverev on the matter but were not able to record a response from the German’s team. Sharypova on Friday also responded to Zverev’s statement through her Instagram account.
Olya on Insta
Olya Sharypova has accused former boyfriend of charging him with physical abuse
“I don’t know if you wrote it or whoever is handling your Instagram, but to this day you had no courage to explain yourself directly,” she wrote.
“Because I’m not lying and we both know it. I’m not afraid to tell the truth, are you? I want to show all men, that let themselves act badly towards women, that we are not an accessory, we are not +1, we are not dolls, you can’t do whatever you like.”
Continuing her story, in the later posts, the distressed girlfriend thanked people for sending her support while posting a series of questions to Zverev.
“If all that I, as some say, is a lie, then why did I run out into the street without shoes?” she wrote.
“If this is a lie, then why is there a photograph of my things being thrown out of the room? You were so brave, so have the courage to answer these questions.”
Zverev meanwhile, through a social media post, on Thursday, also announced that he was expecting his first child from another ex.
