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'CULTURE OF SILENCE PROTECTS MEN': HOW ZVEREV HECKLER WAS INSPIRED BY JELENA DOKIC



For the first time, the protestor who disrupted Alexander Zverev's post-match speech during the Australian Open final has revealed her motive, mentioning Jelena Dokic as her inspiration.


The woman, who does not wish to be identified, screamed repeatedly, "Australia believes Olya and Brenda!", as Zverev was about to address the crowd after his straight-sets loss to world No.1 Jannik Sinner.


Olya and Brenda refer to Zverev's ex-partners, Olya Sharypova and Brenda Patea, who came forward with allegations of abuse caused by Zverev.


A public trial was held in May last year, reaching an out-of-court settlement.


Zverev's heckler continued to shout those five words until security intervened and escorted her out of Rod Laver Arena, detained until two police officers arrived.


American Journalist Ben Rothenberg followed the woman out, asking her to message him for an interview. The woman at the centre of the controversy first opened up about her love for the sport.


"I've been a tennis fan forever," she said. "Growing up in Australia, summer meant the beach and tennis.


"I'm a genuine fan. I was at five sessions [this year], I believe, prior to the men’s final.


"I love this sport. I don't love its apathy to these important topics."


Having 24 hours before the final about whether to attend considering her views on Zverev, she explained why she is passionate about domestic violence, citing former world No.4 Jelena Dokic as a role model.


"I’ve been pretty livid ever since that Sascha has been able to go about his business and be celebrated and cheered on world stages," she said. "Part of me has wondered whether that’s because the majority of people truly don't care about victims’ voices and well-being.


"I was a massive fan of Jelena Dokic growing up—and still am. Her father, unfortunately, reminds me strongly of my own. I have read her books and watched her documentary. People lamenting, 'We didn't know, we didn't realise we had to intervene' has always infuriated me. From my own experience, many people know about domestic violence, even when it’s hushed up. The culture of silence protects men. It protected my father from ever facing any consequences.


"This country has a domestic violence crisis," she added.



When asked about the situation in his post-match press conference, the world No.2 quickly shut down the question.


"I believe there are no more accusations. There haven’t been for, what, nine months now," he said.


"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 open that subject again."


Yet the protestor from Australia used her voice to convey her message that she isn't the only one who feels aggrieved by Zverev's alleged links to domestic violence.


"I wanted their advice on what I should say," she said when mentioning her sisters. "But I don't think they actually thought I intended to disrupt as loudly as I did. I didn't know I was going to be able to do it until it was happening.


"I was sitting on his player’s box end of the court. All night, people were cheering 'Sascha! Sascha! Sascha!' It was gross. He may try to bully people—ATP, journos, whomever—into quashing the story. But I wanted him to know that tennis fans know and we care about those women. And we f***ing believe them.


"I decided at match point I’d come down to the 'Melbourne' sign end, 'cause I know where the media seats are — I wanted to be close enough to you all to hopefully hear me. I wanted Olya’s and Brenda’s names to be heard in that arena.


"I wanted Brenda and Olya and domestic violence survivors to know they’re not forgotten, even when their abusers are celebrated on a world stage. I wanted Sascha to sit in his own discomfort, [to know] that we will not forget, even if he wants to brush it aside. As an Eastern European woman who grew up in an abusive environment supported by the power of silence in 'household matters,' I wanted my voice to be heard.


"The only thing I viscerally recall was before the last time I called out, I could sense the quiet in the room and I knew for sure I was being heard.


"I saw Sascha looking up in my direction. I told myself: 'One more time. He can hear you. Show him there's no question of whose names you're calling in support of.'"


After being escorted out of the Arena, she revealed that the cops were left clueless about what was happening.


"I said to the cop, 'What a shame I’ll be missing tomorrow’s play. He didn't get it."


In 2019, Sharypova revealed that Zverev repeatedly abused her in New York, Shanghai, Monaco and Geneva.


As for Patea, the mother of Zverev's child, she took him to court, as the prosecutor claimed Zverev pushed her against a wall and strangled her with both hands.


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