Status: 02/23/2022 09:14 a.m
Tennis Olympic champion Alexander Zverev has been excluded from the ATP tournament in Acapulco, Mexico, for “unsportsmanlike conduct”. The Hamburger had insulted the referee and repeatedly hit his chair with his bat.
After the 2:6, 6:4, 6:10 in the doubles competition alongside Marcelo Melo (Brazil) against Lloyd Glasspool/Harri Heliövaara (Great Britain/Finland), the 24-year-old let his frustration run free. Zverev yelled loudly at the referee after the first round match (“You fucking idiot” – you damn idiot) and kept hitting his racquet hard on his chair, just missing his feet.
Further penalties are threatened
The Hamburger had previously been upset about a decision by the referee. The men’s organization ATP reacted immediately and excluded him from the further course of the tournament.
The ATP may also sanction Zverev’s behavior with a fine and a suspension. This is what happened to Nick Kyrgios in 2019, who had also skipped the referee at the tournament in Cincinnati: The Australian had been fined $113,000. A 16-week ban was suspended on probation.
Previously historic night shift
In singles, Zverev, who won the tournament in 2021, had previously made history. The German number one defeated the American Jenson Brooksby 3: 6, 7: 6 (12:10) in a historic night shift on Tuesday shortly before 5 a.m. local time. No tour level match had ended that late. Zverev would have played his round of 16 match against Peter Gojowczyk on Thursday night. The Munich player is now without a fight.