German tennis player, Alexander Zverev, will go on trial on 31 May for allegedly assaulting his ex-girlfriend in 2020. He is accused of "physically abusing a woman during an argument and damaging her health". 

The court summoned him to appear in court next May. The former world number two and current world number six must appear in court in person and can only be represented by his lawyers at the eight scheduled hearings, a Berlin court announced last Monday.

The court did not name the accused, but Zverev's defence identified her as Brenda Patea in October. Zverev has repeatedly insisted that he's innocent and denied the allegations made against him. 

In January 2023, the ATP, the governing body of men's tennis, closed an investigation into allegations of domestic abuse against Zverev involving a female tennis player after finding that there was insufficient evidence. Following allegations made by Zverev's ex-girlfriend Olya Sharypova, the ATP launched an investigation into Zverev in October 2021.

Zverev, who is currently playing at the Australian Open, has also appealed against a €450,000 ($475,300) fine imposed on him in October for the assault.

The German was in the spotlight at the Australian Open last Tuesday when he defeated compatriot Dominik Koepfer 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7), 6-3 in four sets. He had a tense press conference after the match. Journalists asked him about his obligation to attend the trial of his ex-partner, Brenda Patea, for alleged assault on 31 May. "Some journalists are more interested in getting clicks than getting knowing what happened," he replied. 

Zverev was responding to questions alluding to the fact that some of his colleagues on the circuit do not approve of the German playing after such serious allegations. Poland's Iga Swiatek is one of them: "It is certainly not good that a player with such allegations is promoted. I don't know how the investigation will go or what the outcome of the case will be.