Alexander Zverev, the world number four, is currently playing at Roland Garros. He was not required to attend the hearing, which began last Friday in Berlin. The German tennis player is being accused by his ex-girlfriend. The 27-year-old is accused of "briefly choking her with both hands" in May 2020, according to his partner Brenda Patea.

Zverev was fined €450,000 ($487,000) in October, but he has appealed the decision and the hearing has now begun. The court said: "The alleged incident took place in the stairwell of their apartment building in Berlin. According to Patea's statement, she suffered "breathing difficulties and significant pain" as a result of the attack.

Zverev has always denied the allegations. He has always maintained his innocence. "I know what I did, I know what I didn't do. At the end of the day that will be the outcome and I have to have faith in that," he told reporters last week.

Under German law, a public trial begins as soon as an appeal is lodged. That's why the Tiergarten district court is handling the case. The complaint was filed in May 2020, about a year after the alleged incident.

Zverev's lawyer, Alfred Dierlamm, drew attention to Patea's social media posts shortly after the incident. He said they showed the couple had a good relationship. This was one of the arguments the lawyer used in his defence. The criminal complaint was filed more than a year after the incident.

It was related to a dispute over the custody and support of the couple's daughter, Dierlamm said. Patea's lawyer, Michael Nitschke, rejected suggestions that the case was only about money. "That's not true. She felt abandoned. She wanted justice," Nitschke told journalists.

Zverev was not present at the hearing attended by Patea, who is due to testify on Monday. Zverev had already indicated before the start of the French Open that he would be skipping the start of the appeal process. 

The hearings are scheduled to last until mid-July and if the German continues to progress through the rounds, it will be difficult for him to attend the trial in Germany. "I believe I will not lose this case. There is absolutely no chance that I will. That's why I can play calmly," Zverev said last week.

Zverev beat Belgian David Goffin in straight sets in the second round of Roland Garros on Thursday. He had eliminated 14-time champion Rafael Nadal in the first round. He is in good form after winning the Italian Open earlier this month and is aiming for his first Grand Slam title. In the third round, Zverev will face Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor.

In January 2023, the ATP, which runs the men's tennis tour, closed an investigation into allegations of domestic abuse against Zverev involving a female tennis player after finding that there was insufficient evidence. The ATP had opened an investigation into Zverev in October 2021 following allegations made by his ex-girlfriend, Olya Sharypova. 

This is therefore not the first time the tennis player has been the subject of allegations of violence and assault. Zverev's defence insists that his ex-girlfriend was trying to live a jet-set life. 

They point to the existence of videos and photos that prove there was no abuse after the alleged incident. The desire for opulence is another argument put forward by the tennis player's defence. According to his lawyer, he paid for all the excesses.