The woman who gained international attention by highlighting domestic abuse allegations against German tennis star Alexander “Sascha” Zverev during the Australian Open has finally spoken out.
On Sunday, Zverev competed against Italian player Jannik Sinner in the men’s finals and experienced a straight-sets defeat at Rod Laver Arena.
As the world number two approached the microphone to deliver his speech during the post-match ceremonies, his remarks were disrupted by shouts from the audience.
“Australia believes Olga and Brenda!” the female spectator shouted three times before being booed by the crowd and quickly escorted from the venue.
Her outcry referred to previous domestic abuse accusations made by Zverev’s former partners Olga Sharypova and Brenda Patea, the latter with whom he shares a child.
Since the incident, she has faced mixed reactions, receiving a wave of online criticism for interrupting the event, yet also receiving praise for drawing attention to an important social issue.
Speaking with tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg on his website Bounces on Tuesday, the woman — using the name Nina to protect her privacy — asserted she is “glad someone said it.”
The protest was not entirely spontaneous, she admitted, having previously discussed her options with her sisters. Nevertheless, she attended the match alone that day.
“I was sitting at the player’s box end of the court,” explained the self-proclaimed tennis enthusiast.
“All night, people were chanting ‘Sascha! Sascha! Sascha!’ It was unsettling. He may try to pressure people — ATP, journalists, whoever — into dismissing the story. But I wanted him to know that tennis fans are aware and we care about those women. And we absolutely believe them.”
She informed Rothenberg that she chose her location deliberately to maximize her impact, moving closer to the ‘Melbourne’ sign near the media seats at match point.
“I wanted to be close enough for you all to hopefully hear me,” she said.
“And I wanted the names of Olya and Brenda to echo in that arena.”
The 30-year-old — who disclosed that the issue of domestic violence is personal to her and her family — continued to express her desire for survivors “to know they’re not forgotten even when their abusers are celebrated on a world stage.”
“I wanted Sascha to confront his own discomfort, [to realize] that we will not forget, even if he wishes to ignore it,” Nina stated, according to Bounces.
“As an Eastern European woman raised in an abusive environment that was often overlooked due to the silence surrounding ‘household matters,’ I wanted my voice to be heard.”
Nationally, Australia is also dealing with a domestic violence crisis, she noted, with over 100 women in Australia killed by their domestic partners in 2024.
Following the protest that captured global attention, Nina admitted she is not typically a “vocal protester” and has “never done anything publicly” like this before.
However, she expressed satisfaction with the widespread reaction to her statements.
“I’m thrilled that Olya and Brenda’s stories are being recapped by media, and are being highlighted by other media for the first time. I’m surprised at the impact,” she told Rothenberg.
Meanwhile, when asked on Sunday, Zverev dismissed the incident at the Australian Open and once again denied the allegations, according to The Age.
“I believe there are no more accusations. There haven’t been for, what, nine months now,” he told reporters in Melbourne.
“Good for her. I think she was the only one in the stadium who believed anything in that moment.
“If that’s the case, good for her. I think I’ve done everything I can, and I’m not about to reopen that subject.”
In early 2023, the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) concluded a 15-month independent investigation into Zverev’s ex-partner Sharypova’s claims, finding “insufficient evidence to substantiate published allegations of abuse”, according to The Guardian.
A case between the 27-year-old tennis star and his other ex-partner Patea was also settled out of court last year without any admission of guilt.
Lead image: Shi Tang/ Getty Images
