Alexander Zverev’s domestic abuse court case hangs over his hunt for French Open glory

Alexander Zverev is eyeing up his first Grand Slam title at the French Open, with his ongoing domestic abuse court case casting a cloud over his heroics in Paris.

An impressive Zverev reached his fourth French Open semi-final in four years after a straight-sets win over Alex De Minaur.

The German fourth seed, still hunting a first grand slam title – and a first Paris final – won a late-night tussle 6-4 7-6 (5) 6-4 in a shade under three hours on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

Zverev will play two-time runner-up Casper Ruud, the Norwegian seventh seed who was due to play Novak Djokovic until the defending champion withdrew through injury, in the last four.

“I have the mindset you have to work harder than everyone else to be the best player,” he said.

“I like to work to my absolute limit. If I do that then playing five sets all of a sudden is not that difficult.

“I’ve been doing that over many years and I’m happy to be in another semi-final. Hopefully I can win one.”

The match hinged on the 12th game of the second set, when Australian 11th seed De Minaur had a set point but was unable to take it.

De Minaur then led 4-0 and 5-3 in the tie-break, but Zverev reeled him in and then won a stunning 39-shot rally to bring up a set point of his own, which he took when his opponent went long.

De Minaur broke Zverev as he served for the match but was then unable to hold as the 27-year-old sealed another quarter-final victory.

“I’m extremely proud of my efforts throughout the two weeks,” said De Minaur.

“Even today I think I put up a hell of a fight in adverse conditions against a quality opponent. Again, I had my chances, probably should have taken the second set, and I think we would have been in for a proper battle.

“But, yeah, I left my heart out there. I did everything I could. It just wasn’t good enough. You know, sometimes on this surface days like today, conditions like today, I just struggle a little bit more. I’m still happy with the way I showed up.”

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

With Novak Djokovic withdrawing from the French Open, Zverev appears to have a more viable path to the final as he will take on Casper Ruud in a semi-final that could have seen him pitted against the outgoing world No 1.

Yet tennis will have an interesting dilemma if Zverev’s first Grand Slam win is quickly followed by a verdict in his court case in Berlin.

His run to the semi-finals at the Australian Open was overshadowed when a court date was set for a trial over domestic abuse allegations, which he denies, and which is scheduled to begin in a week’s time.

“At the end of the day, I do believe in the German system,” said Zverev last week, when asked about a court case he does not need to attend in person.

“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.”

Tennis chiefs have opted to step away from this off-court story for now, but that may change when a judgement is reached in a case that could have big implications for the sport.