The woman who heckled Alexander Zverev at the Australian Open men’s singles final has revealed startling new details about the dramatic protest that made headlines around the world.
Known only as ‘Nina’, she has opened up about the reasons why she screamed ‘Australia believes Olya and Brenda! Australia believes Olya and Brenda!’ as the Russian was about to start his runner-up speech – and what happened when security pulled her out of the crowd.
In 2020 Olya Sharypova, a former girlfriend of Zverev, posted on Instagram accusing him of assaulting her multiple times, allegations she expanded upon in interviews.
Sharypova did not go to the police but the ATP instituted a 15-month, independent investigation. In 2023 it was announced that Zverev would face no punishment as there was insufficient evidence to support Sharypova’s claims.
Last May, separate accusations of domestic abuse from Brenda Patea, the mother of Zverev’s child, went to a German court. The case was settled, with the court telling the BBC: ‘The decision is not a verdict and it is not a decision about guilt or innocence.
‘One decisive factor for the court decision was that the witness has expressed her wish to end the trial.
The woman who staged the dramatic protest during the men’s singles final at the Australian Open (pictured) has broken her silence after her heckling made headlines around the world Â
Pictured: The moment Alexander Zverev reacts to ‘Nina’ yelling the names of two women who accused him of domestic abuse after his loss to Jannik Sinner
‘The defendant agreed to the termination of the case.’
Zverev has denied any wrongdoing with regard to both sets of allegations.
Now Nina – a Melburnian in her 30s who has been going to the Australian Open for years – has revealed that the effect of domestic violence on her own life was one of the things that spurred on her protest.
‘I was a massive fan of Jelena Dokic growing up – and still am,’ she told the Bounces tennis website, referring to the former Aussie star turned commentator who has accused her father Damir of physical and mental abuse.
‘Her father, unfortunately, reminds me strongly of my own … from my own experience, many people know about DV. The culture of silence protects men. It protected my father from ever facing any consequences.
‘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.’
Nina also believes she needed to speak up because Australia is in the middle of a domestic violence crisis.
After taking advice from her sisters on how to make the statement as effective as possible, then chose the location of her protest so her words would have maximum impact.
‘I decided at match point I’d [leave my seat and] 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,’ she explained.
Nina is pictured appearing to speak with a steward at Rod Laver Arena on Sunday night after heckling the world No.2
Nina knew her words had the desired effect after she yelled them for a third time, and she made a telling gesture to the crowd that the cameras missed when she said she heard jeers coming from male spectators.
‘I did a bow in their direction as I was leaving,’ she revealed, before explaining what happened when she was thrown out of Rod Laver Arena.
‘When the security caught up with me near the doors, they told me to go with them. I asked if I was required to stay with them, if I was detained, and they were pretty insistent.
Nina said she was told security had the power to detain her and she had to remain with them until police arrived.
She claimed the officers gave her an order to leave the venue and barred her from Melbourne Park for 24 hours.
‘I said to the cop, “What a shame, I’ll be missing tomorrow’s play.” He didn’t get it,’ Nina said, referring to the fact the men’s final was the last match of the tournament.
Nina said she has been pleasantly surprised by the impact her words had but hit out at Australian Open boss Craig Tiley, who accused her of ruining the final for everyone else and backed her eviction.
‘Who have I ruined the event for?’ she hit back.
‘Australians are known for being vocal at sporting events. I said five words; not one word was offensive.’
Nina – a Melburnian who has attended the Australian Open for several years – claimed she has been personally affected by domestic violenceÂ
Zverev is pictured with one of his accusers, Brenda Patea. He has denied any wrongdoing
There was a nasty element to the aftermath when Nina was body-shamed by cruel internet trolls on social media.
Zverev – who was outclassed by Jannik Sinner as he lost the final in straight sets – initially didn’t address the incident.
However, he later told reporters: ‘Good for her. I think she was the only one in the stadium who believed anything.’
Tiley used the incident to send a warning to other Australian Open spectators after crowd behaviour was a problem at this year’s tournament.
‘As far as the individuals shouting things during the matches, we’ve said this before: if anyone comes on site and tries to be disruptive and tries to make a point, they’re now welcome,’ he told radio 3AW.
‘They ruin it for everyone else … that incident just, it ruined this for everyone, if someone’s going to behave like that.
‘So they can stay away. And if they come and do that, we’ll remove them.’Â
