Tennis world No 3 Alex Zverev is THROWN OUT of the Mexican Open after smashing his racket repeatedly by the umpire’s feet and shouting: ‘You’re a f***ing idiot, you f***ing destroyed the whole f***ing match’
- Olympic champion Alexander Zverev has been disqualified at Mexican Open
- The world No 3 was furious with the umpire after a doubles loss in Acapulco
- Zverev hit the umpire’s chair four times with his racquet after losing his temper
Germany’s Alexander Zverev has been kicked out of the Mexican Open in Acapulco for ‘unsportsmanlike conduct’ after lashing out at an umpire following a doubles defeat.
Zverev, partnering Brazilian tennis player Marcelo Melo, came dangerously close to hitting the umpire when he repeatedly assaulted the official’s chair with his racquet after a 6-2, 4-6, 10-6 defeat by Lloyd Glasspool and Harri Heliövaara.
After the four players had shaken hands at the net at the end, Zverev walked back to his chair, only to make three dangerous swipes inches from the legs of the chair umpire.
Alexander Zverev has been kicked out of the Mexican Open after attacking the umpire’s chair
The German was furious after a doubles loss in which he struck the umpire’s chair four times
Zverev’s irritation came over a line call in the deciding set tiebreak.
The German was furious, crouching down and saying, ‘look where the ball bounced, 8-6 in the tiebreak, for f**k sake. It’s f***ing your line.
‘You’re a f***ing idiot.’
When the game ends, the Olympic champion hits the chair three times as the crowd gasped in disbelief before going on to shout: ‘you f***ing destroyed the whole f***ing match! The whole f***ing match.’
Zverev was furious at a line call in the deciding set tie-break that wasn’t given, leading to him calling the chair umpire a ‘f***ing idiot’, much to the dismay of the crowd in Acapulco
Zverev, incensed at the officiating at this point, again strikes the side of the umpire’s chair with his racquet, before the official, who appeared deeply uncomfortable by the outburst, hastily leaves the court.
In a statement following the appalling outburst, the ATP confirmed he had been removed from the tournament and fellow German Peter Gojowczyk, who he was due to face next in singles, has been given a walkover win.
Zverev will no doubt face a serious fine for his conduct and risks a suspension following examination by the ATP.
‘Unsportsmanlike conduct’ is defined by the ATP Tour as ‘any misconduct by a player that is clearly abusive or detrimental to the success of a tournament, ATP and/or the sport.’
The German player remains under investigation by the ATP following allegations of domestic abuse from his ex-girlfriend Olga Sharypova, which include allegations of violent physical abuse. Zverev has repeatedly denied all allegations.
The German has been kicked out of the tournament in Acapulco for ‘unsportsmanlike conduct’
Back in 2019, tennis bad boy Nick Kyrgios was handed a suspended 16-week ban from the tour and a record fine of approximately £90,000 after committing eight offences during a match with Karen Khachanov at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, including verbally abusing umpire Fergus Murphy and spitting towards the official.
He was placed on a six-month probation as a result.
Only a day prior to this unsavoury episode, Zverev had made history in Acapulco by setting a new record for the latest finish to a tennis match.
Beating the previous latest finish of 4:34am, set by Lleyton Hewitt when he beat Marcos Baghdatis at the 2008 Australian Open, Zverev and opponent Jenson Brooksby didn’t wrap up their match until 4.55am.
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