Salma Hayek found herself at the center of controversy after deleting an Instagram post featuring tennis star Alexander Zverev during the French Open 2026. The Mexican-American actress attended Roland Garros with her billionaire husband, François-Henri Pinault, on May 31. Zverev defeated Jesper de Jong in the fourth round. Shortly after the match, Hayek shared a photo with the German tennis player on her Instagram. However, the post quickly attracted criticism from fans. It was later removed.
The deleted photo sparked more discussion online. Many social media users questioned why Hayek, who has publicly supported causes related to women’s rights and domestic violence awareness, chose to celebrate Zverev. The tennis star has previously faced domestic abuse allegations from former partners. Although Zverev has consistently denied all accusations and no conviction resulted from the cases, the controversy remains a sensitive topic among some fans. Hayek’s decision to remove the photo only fueled further debate on social media platforms.
Fans Question Salma Hayek’s Support for Alexander Zverev
After Salma Hayek posted the picture, several users quickly pointed out Alexander Zverev’s past legal controversies. Some fans noted that the actress’s charitable work has included support for victims of domestic violence, making the photo appear contradictory in their eyes.
Comments flooded social media after the post disappeared. Some users joked that the actress could have simply waited for an Instagram story to expire instead of deleting the image. Others argued that the criticism she received likely influenced her decision to remove the post. Several fans specifically referenced allegations made by Zverev’s former girlfriend Olya Sharypova in 2020 and by Brenda Patea in 2023.
Zverev has repeatedly denied all accusations. The legal case involving Patea was discontinued in 2024. The German player has maintained his innocence throughout the controversy.
Meanwhile, Zverev remains focused on his campaign at Roland Garros. The World No. 3 has emerged as one of the favorites for the title following the early exits of top contenders Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic.
The German also recently commented on the extreme temperatures experienced during the tournament. Temperatures reached close to 40 degrees Celsius during the opening week of the French Open. Despite concerns raised about player safety, Zverev said he personally enjoys playing in hot conditions.
Zverev is scheduled to face Spanish youngster Rafael Jódar in the French Open quarterfinals on June 2 at Court Philippe-Chatrier as he continues his bid for a maiden Roland Garros title.
