Alexander Zverev has expressed relief that the ATP is to open an investigation into allegations of domestic abuse made against him by his former girlfriend, Olga Sharypova, greeting news of an internal inquiry as a chance to “clear my name” and “move on”.
Massimo Calvelli, the CEO of the sport’s governing body, said on Tuesday that the ATP would seek to “establish the facts and determine appropriate follow-up action” following claims by Sharypova that Zverev physically and emotionally abused her at the Shanghai Masters event in 2019.
The former Russian junior player first made the allegations last October, since when she has outlined her claims in greater detail in interviews with the New York Times journalist Ben Rothenberg published in Racquet Magazine and Slate Magazine.
Zverev, the Olympic champion and world No 4, has consistently denied all the allegations against him “categorically and unequivocally”.
Zverev has obtained a preliminary injunction against Slate in his native Germany, and has initiated further proceedings against both Slate and Rothenberg in the face of the magazine’s insistence that it stands by the piece, which it says was thoroughly researched and supported by multiple sources.
Zverev said he welcomed the ATP investigation. “Well, bloody finally to be honest,” said the 24-year-old, currently in Palm Springs for the the BNP Paribas Open, when asked for his reaction. “I’ve been asking them myself for months now. I’ve been asking them to do that since London last year, because it is very hard for me to clear my name. Only with something like this I can completely.
“I am actually quite happy about it, because after hopefully this is done, this subject will be done. It’s been around for a year, and there’s not much more I can do to clear my name and I hope this will finally do it.
“It’s very difficult in my situation because a lot of the times the man is not really believed. I have proven that I am innocent in a lot of different ways. And I think now, with this investigation which finally happening, I hope that this can be done and dusted from a third individual party and then we can move on.”
In addition to launching an inquiry into the specific allegations surrounding the 2019 Shanghai Masters, the ATP has announced the completion of an independent safeguarding report that was commissioned to provide guidance on the organisation’s future handling of such cases. The resulting recommendations will be assessed before being incorporated into a wider-ranging safeguarding strategy, the organisation said.
Andy Murray, one of the few players to speak out over the allegations, has welcomed the developments. “I think now you have to try to look at the positives of what’s come from that and, yes it’s taken a little bit too long, but now there is going to be a process in place and protocols in place when allegations like that are made.”
Murray, who has been asked about the situation on several occasions this year, has previously called on the ATP to be be “more proactive” in dealing with the situation.
“I don’t think it’s been great for the tour,” he said in San Diego last week. “I don’t think it’s been great for Zverev, because you know, unless it gets addressed head-on, it’s just going to be lingering, and, like you say, the questions will continue to be getting asked.”
Calvelli said: “The allegations raised against Alexander Zverev are serious and we have a responsibility to address them.
“We understand Zverev welcomes our investigation and acknowledge that he has denied all allegations. We will also be monitoring any further legal developments following the preliminary injunction obtained by Zverev in the German courts.”