A German court has dropped a case against tennis star Alexander Zverev after he agreed to pay fines of 200,000 euros ($218,000) and reached an out-of-court settlement with his former partner. The district court in Berlin ended the trial with the agreement of state prosecutors and lawyers for both Zverev and his former partner. Zverev agreed to pay fines of 150,000 euros to the state and 50,000 euros to charitable organizations.
Zverev, the world No. 4, was facing a charge of causing bodily harm to his former partner during an argument in Berlin in May 2020. Prosecutors alleged that he pushed her against a wall and choked her, while Zverev denied any wrongdoing. The matter came to trial after Zverev contested a penalty order issued in October, which included fines amounting to 450,000 euros ($490,000).
Penalty orders are used in Germany as a means of resolving some criminal cases without going to trial if the suspect does not contest the order. The judge presiding over the case announced the decision to drop it after lawyers for Zverev and his former partner held discussions to end their disputes at all levels where disagreements had arisen in recent years.
The former couple expressed a desire to put an end to their public feud and focus on moving forward, particularly in relation to their joint custody of their child. Zverev, who is currently competing in the French Open, did not appear before the court during the proceedings. His former partner testified as a witness in a closed session.
