Alexander Zverev's ex gives birth amid messy custody saga
The former girlfriend of Alexander Zverev has given birth to the German tennis star's baby.
German model Brenda Patea says she's "blessed" after sharing an image of her newborn daughter on social media.
Patea and Zverev dated for less than 12 months before breaking up last year, with the World No.7 insisting the pair would make a co-parenting situation work.
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"On 11.03 we were blessed with the arrival of Mayla. #blessed #truelove #miracle," Patea wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of her holding hands with her precious bundle of joy.
Zverev is currently in Acapulco preparing for the Mexico Open, which gets underway on Monday.
He is then set to travel to the United States for the Miami Open - beginning later in March.
Zverev's breakup with Patea has been far from amicable, with the model lashing out at the tennis star over comments he made about her and the baby last year.
The 23-year-old tennis star told reporters he was looking forward to becoming a dad and insisted "everything’s great on the court and off the court."
He also claimed in a statement: “Even though Brenda and I are no longer together, we have a good relationship and I will live up to my responsibility as a father. Together we will take care of the little person that is about to grow.”
Zverev's ex wants to raise the baby alone
Patea said she was "fed up" after being bombarded with questions about Zverev's comments and told fans in February that she didn't him to have anything to do with her baby.
The German model addressed the messy situation during a question-and-answer session on social media.
“Okay, a lot of people ask since I have been seeing all these interviews with Alex lately, I really wonder what he wants to achieve?,” she wrote.
“‘Highlight of his life’? ‘He is pleased’? ‘Greatest place’? I hardly think so. Because we have no contact! And so far nothing has come from him! We were in contact a few months ago … when that was with his ex but that was it.
“Yes, it’s stupid about media … but hey if he gives such interviews with such statements I can finally say something about it … why?”
Patea accused Zverev of being dishonest in interviews about the baby when asked whether she has been sharing updates about the child with the tennis star.
“You could think through his statements but unfortunately not so! I don’t care now. Wanted to have ‘rest’ but so many people tell me ‘oh how already that you have contact or that there is interest’. (I’m) fed up with his ‘perfect interviews’. Be honest one day.”
The model spoke about the pregnancy in October and indicated that it was her intention to raise the baby on her own.
“I’m expecting a child from Alex,” Patea confirmed to German tabloid Bild at the time.
“We don’t have any communication with Alex right now, and frankly, I don’t plan to share custody of my child with him … but I will do everything to ensure that (the child grows) up in a harmonious and proper environment.
"I have the chance to raise my child alone.”
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