ATP tournament in Acapulco
Tennis star Zverev hits the referee’s chair – and flies out of the tournament
Tennis star Alexander Zverev at the ATP tournament in Acapulco
© Eduardo Verdugo/AP/DPA
Alexander Zverev lost his nerve at the ATP tournament in Acapulco: After a double defeat, the Olympic tennis champion hit the referee’s high chair with his racket.
Alexander Zverev caused a scandal with a tantrum at the tennis tournament in Acapulco. After the 2: 6, 6: 4, 6:10 defeat with his Brazilian doubles partner Marcelo Melo against the British Lloyd Glasspool and the Finn Harri Heliovaara, the 24-year-old could not calm down and hit the chair with his racket , on which the referee was sitting, even catching his foot lightly. He also called him a “damn idiot”.
The reason for the freak was a controversial referee decision shortly before during the round of 16 game. Zverev had seen a shot out of bounds, but according to the referee the ball had landed in the field. For Zverev, the attack also has consequences in the individual: the men’s organization ATP excluded the Olympic champion from Tokyo from the further course of the tournament because of “unsportsmanlike conduct”.
Alexander Zverev is criticized again
Actually, Zverev should have met his compatriot Peter Gojowczyk in the round of 16. The 32-year-old from Munich now advances to the quarter-finals without a fight. Zverev had previously won a historic match: the defending champion of the tournament in Acapulco prevailed against the American Jenson Brooksby after 3:20 hours – he converted the match point at 4:55 a.m. A match had never ended later on the ATP tour.
Zverev had already caused a few scandals in the past few years. In 2020 he was criticized for taking part in a tournament where the Covid-19 protective measures were not followed. Zverev then announced voluntary self-isolation, but took part in a party a few days later. His ex-girlfriend Olga Sharypowa also accuses him of domestic violence. The tennis player denies the allegations.