Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has found himself at the center of a major social media storm after publicly congratulating Germany’s Alexander Zverev on winning his maiden Grand Slam title at the 2026 French Open. Zverev ended years of near-misses on tennis’s biggest stages by defeating Italy’s Flavio Cobolli in a grueling five-set thriller at Roland Garros.
Following the landmark victory, Tendulkar took to X (formerly Twitter) to applaud the 29-year-old’s hard work, stating he “always felt he was a special player.”
However, the former India captain’s praise was quickly met with intense backlash from netizens. Disgruntled fans and social media users immediately flooded the comments section, reminding the cricket icon of the serious domestic abuse allegations that have shadowed Zverev’s career for years. Many critics expressed disappointment that a sporting figure of Tendulkar’s stature would celebrate the tennis star, with several users bluntly advising the “Master Blaster” to be “better informed” before posting.
The controversy stems from high-profile allegations leveled against Zverev by two former partners. In 2020, his ex-girlfriend Olga Sharypova accused him of physical and emotional abuse, prompting an independent ATP investigation that concluded in 2023 with a citation of insufficient evidence.
Separately, Brenda Patea, the mother of Zverev’s daughter, alleged physical abuse during a 2020 argument. While that case moved to a Berlin court, it was officially discontinued in 2024 following an out-of-court settlement, leaving no legal determination of guilt. Zverev has consistently denied all claims and has never been convicted. Despite the mounting online criticism, Tendulkar has yet to respond to the backlash.