World No.6 Alexander Zverev has become the latest star to be eliminated from the Australian Open by an underdog – and his surprise loss didn’t come without a brutal destruction of his racquet and a complaint about a bubbling court.
Zverev has won 19 ATP titles to world No.14 Denis Shapovalov‘s one, but the German fell to the Canadian 6-3 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 at Margaret Court Arena, failing to book his place in the quarter-final stage.
Shapovalov will compete in an Australian Open quarter-final for the first time when he squares off with 20-time singles grand slam champion Rafael Nadal.
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Zverev’s temper boiled over when his serve was broken during the opening game of the second set, leading to the 24-year-old obliterating his racquet.
Zverev struck the Margaret Court Arena surface three times, leaving his racquet mongulated.
“Shapavolov strikes, the racquet is gone from Zverev in a big way,” former British tennis professional Colin Fleming said on Nine’s Wide World of Sports.
“There is definitely an upset brewing now on the Margaret Court Arena.”
Former Australian tennis professional Josh Eagle gave Zverev a perfect score for the assault on his racquet.
“Look at the aggression in the racquet break,” Eagle said.
“Got to give him a 10 out of 10 for that because that is one of the best I have ever seen. So good.”
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Zverev was then embroiled in more drama when he complained to the chair umpire about a bubbling court while leading 4-3 in the second set, pointing out the impact of the scorching heat.
Zverev ushered chair umpire Damien Dumusois to the baseline to alert him to the deteriorated surface.
Melbourne on Sunday hit a top of 33 degrees, which Eagle said he’d experienced at court level.
“It’s understandable,” Eagle said.
“I know how that court feels because I was sitting down there and I was bubbling.”
Fleming added; “Inside these arenas (it’s hot) and at court level it’s significantly hotter than that”.
But Eagle couldn’t pinpoint a solution.
“I’m just not sure what they can do,” Eagle said.
“This surface – they get re-laid around December time.”
Shapovalov defeated Laslo Dere, Kwon Son-woo, Reilly Opelka and Zverev over the first four rounds of the Melbourne Park major.
He’s now set to meet a fine-tuned Nadal hunting a record 21st singles major title.
Nadal has conquered the Australian Open once, downing Swiss maestro Roger Federer in an engrossing five-setter in the 2009 final.
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