Alexander Zverev’s ex-girlfriend spoke in court today (Monday) but spectators and press were not allowed to hear her testimony. The German tennis player is accused of causing bodily harm in an incident which is alleged to have occurred in May 2020.

Zverev was fined approximately £383,000 late last year but the case returned to court when he and his legal team appealed the verdict. The 27-year-old, who has always denied the allegations, is currently at the French Open and has not been required to attend the Tiergarten District Court in Berlin personally since the trial started last Friday.

Day one was swiftly adjourned after the defence team requested that spectators and media personnel be excluded from attending the plaintiff’s testimony.

Zverev’s team successfully argued that members of the public attending the testimony would leave the world No 4 at risk of ‘public exposure’ and ‘a degradation of his professional position’, and that proceeding behind closed doors would be in the best interest of his three-year-old child.

The plaintiff testified until lunchtime on Monday, with details set to be kept under wraps, and the ongoing trial was subsequently adjourned until Tuesday.

Zverev made headlines early on in the French Open for his exploits on the court, as he downed the king of clay Rafael Nadal in straight sets. David Goffin was next to fall at the hands of the German, before a five-set marathon against Tallon Griekspoor in the third round.

The tests only get tougher as Zverev advances towards the top prize at Roland Garros, with a difficult match against Holger Rune pencilled in for Monday evening.

Following his hard-fought win over Griekspoor, Zverev admitted he had already processed what, during the fifth set, seemed like a certain exit from the tournament. “Oh my God, I already had a full speech for every single member of my team ready,” he said.

“I already knew what I was going to tell my coach. I already knew what I was going to tell my hitting partner. I already knew what I was going to tell my physical trainer. I already had it all prepared. I was going to give them so much s***. You can’t imagine.

“When you are down 4-1, double break against him, there’s a very small chance you’re going to come back. I felt like I played a really, really good game at 4-1 down. Obviously I’m extremely happy that I won and that I’m still in the tournament.”