Alexander Zverev could win the Australian Open. Last year, we were questioning his right to compete.

With a successful 2024 on the court under his belt, Alexander Zverev is back playing at the Australian Open in 2025 as world No 2.

Not only is it an impressive jump from last year's world No 6, the German player is also continuing to impress his colleagues — his two-year term as one of ten on the Player Advisory Council is now in its second year.

As far as work goes, he's rising from strength to strength.

In fact, the 27-year-old is a good chance to win his first Grand Slam in Melbourne this January, and the world's media is loving snapping photos of him with his glamorous girlfriend, Sophia Thomalla.

As for the storm of domestic violence allegations that clouded his 2024?

Well, they're barely getting a mention.

Watch Zverev being asked about his DV trial during interviews at the 2024 Australian Open.

Two women have accused Zverev of abuse.

His ex-girlfriend Olga Sharypova has detailed multiple allegations, including one at an ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Shanghai in October 2019, where she alleges he punched her in the face, covered her face with a pillow until she struggled to breathe and pushed her against a wall.

An investigation was commissioned by the ATP in 2021 in relation to the claims, but it was unable to substantiate the allegations of abuse due to a lack of reliable evidence and eyewitness reports.

Another former partner — and the mother of his child — Brenda Patea, alleges he pushed her into a wall and choked her in 2020.

In October 2023, Zverev was ordered to face a German court on charges relating to Patea and ordered to pay a $740,000 penalty — a fine prosecutors in Germany can call for if there is enough compelling evidence to take a matter to trial.

Defendants have the right to contest the order, which then results in a public trial, which is what happened in Zverev's case.

Alexander Zverev with Brenda Patea in January, 2020. Image: James D. Morgan/Getty.

His hearing began on May 31, 2024, which overlapped with the French Open.

He didn't have to appear in person, and was also allowed to keep playing because the ATP Tour rulebook does not feature a policy for player punishments for domestic violence charges.

The hearing was expected to continue into July and potentially clash with Wimbledon, but Zverev opted to settle and pay AUD $332,982, after an agreement with Patea and the prosecutor's office.

Most of the money went to the German state treasury, with the remainder going to non-profit organisations.

"The decision is not a verdict and it is not a decision about guilt or innocence," the court told the BBC.

As the Australian Open got underway early last year, these allegations were still before the courts — and were generating significant headlines.

Pretty much everyone in the men's competition dodged questions about it, choosing responses like "I'm completely unfamiliar with it," or that it's "tough to comment" when asked.

But over in the women's competition, they were questioning his right to even compete.

"They do what they do on that side... Would that happen in the (women's) tour? Probably not," remarked 2017 US Open winner Sloane Stephens when asked about Zverev's place in the game.

She added that the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) "beats to their own drum," when dealing with issues like Zverev's.

Russian world No.13 Daria Kasatkina criticised Channel Nine for choosing to broadcast Zverev's match over the women's game.

If you’re a female, then I would advise you to make a research about the guy you wanna watch and think again🥰

— Daria Kasatkina (@DKasatkina) January 17, 2024

Six months after the settlement and the focus is well and truly back on Zverev's game, with little to no mention of the storm of last year.

It's not surprising, really. We've seen talented men being excused and pardoned for alleged bad behaviour again and again.

But we can't help but wonder.

Would an alleged abuser be given the same grace to 'get on with the job' and put the allegations aside on the women's side?

We hazard a guess it would continue to follow her, forever.

First published in January 2024, and updated in January 2025.

Feature image: Shi Tang/Getty.