Andy Murray speaks out on Alexander Zverev’s domestic abuse case and asks big question

Alexander Zverev’s domestic abuse trial in Germany is an uncomfortable side show accompanying his progress at this year’s French Open and now former world No 1 Andy Murray has given his thoughts on the story.

Zverev came through a five-set marathon to reach the fourth round of the French Open on Saturday, with the German appearing to be on the brink of a shock exit against world No 26 Tallon Griekspoor before a dramatic fightback.

He cut a frustrated figure as he argued with umpire Marijana Veljovic over a line call after Griekspoor secured the break with a volley, but Zverev hit back to force a deciding set tie-break and finished with an ace to register a 3-6 9-4 6-2 4-6 7-6 (3) victory.

After the draining contest, Zverev admitted he thought he was on his way out as Griekspoor had the game in the palm of his hand.

“When you’re down 4-1, double break final set against such a big server, you don’t always win so obviously I’m extremely happy,” he said.

“I had a full speech for all my team ready, my hitting partner, my physio. I was going to give them so much s*** you wouldn’t believe.”

It was Zverev’s first match since a trial over domestic abuse allegations against him – which he denies – opened in Berlin on Friday.

Several players competing at Roland Garros this year have been asked about the Zverev story and Murray is the latest high-profile name to give his opinion.

While he didn’t want to talk about a legal case he didn’t have all the information on, Murray did question the ATP’s role in the story, as he asked whether tennis chiefs should have played a more prominent role in a story featuring one of their biggest stars.

READ MORE: Alexander Zverev: Pundits react as the German narrowly avoids major French Open upset

“I got asked about that kind of a few years ago, and the ATP’s kind of policy around those sorts of situations. Yeah, clearly it’s a difficult one,” said Murray,

“You know, the players shouldn’t be the ones that are coming in here making comment on it. It’s the ATP who should make the decision and make the, you know, the policy for what that would look like.

“I don’t think they (ATP Tour) did a particularly good job over the last few years with, I don’t know what the word is in terms of, you know, in these situations when you might ask me about that in press, like, it’s not for us to come up with what those policies are.

“It’s for the governing body to make that decision. Yeah, clearly it’s a very difficult subject, but it’s for you guys to obviously report on that, and we’ll see what happens with the trial. And then, I guess, a decision will be made after that.”

Zverev has insisted a legal case that has been part of his story for a long time now will not distract his French Open ambitions, as he again protested his innocence.

“At the end of the day, I do believe in the German system,” said the 27-year-old, who does not have to attend the trial in Berlin.

“I do believe in the truth, as well. I have to be certain that, you know, I do know what I did, I do know what I didn’t do.

“That’s, at the end of the day, what’s going to come out, and I have to trust in that.

“You know, everything else is out of my hands. Not out of my hands, but I do believe that I’m not going to lose this procedure. There’s absolutely no chance I am.

“That’s why I can play calmly and I think my results have been showing it. Winning in Rome I think is a big title, as well, and obviously being here. And if it would be on my mind I wouldn’t be playing the way I am.”