Just hours after making history for the latest-finishing ATP encounter ever, German superstar Alexander Zverev has now found his name in the headlines for all the wrong reasons after lashing out at the chair umpire in Acapulco.
The world No.3 was competing in a doubles match at the Mexican Open with Brazilian teammate Marcelo Melo.
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Moments after the pair were eliminated in three sets 6-2 4-6 10-6 to Lloyd Glasspool and Harri Heliovaara, Zverev took aim at the chair umpire before aggressively giving the umpire’s chair a whack with his racquet on several occasions.
He has since been kicked out of the tournament for the incident.
https://twitter.com/AbiertoTelcel/status/1496392037746237440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
“Due to unsportsmanlike conduct at the conclusion of his doubles match on Tuesday night, Alexander Zverev has been withdrawn from the tournament in Acapulco,” the ATP said on Twitter.
Late in the match during the tiebreak, Zverev was seen arguing with the chair umpire, clearly frustrated after a contentious line call went against him and Melo.
“Look where the ball bounced,” Zverev said during the match to the chair umpire.
“It’s 8-6 in the tiebreak, look where the ball bounced. For f–k sake, it’s your line.
“It’s f—–g your line. You f—–g idiot.”
The 24-year-old German was the defending champion in the singles. The ATP website shows that his second-round opponent, Peter Gojowczyk, has been given a walkover.
https://twitter.com/josemorgado/status/1496361725179932672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfwhttps://twitter.com/tumcarayol/status/1496360285745123329?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
– with AP