Alexander Zverev has been defaulted out of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel.
Zverev’s expulsion came after he threw temper tantrums during and after his doubles loss with Marcelo Melo against Harri Heliovarra and Lloyd Glasspool on Tuesday night. It started in the super-tiebreaker, when the third-ranked German repeatedly argued calls made by chair umpire Alessandro Germani. Things only escalated following Zverev and Melo’s 6-2, 4-6, 10-6 loss.
After shaking hands, Zverev furiously struck the umpire’s chair–extremely close to Germani’s foot–three times with his racket, in an obviously threatening manner.
“Due to unsportsmanlike conduct at the conclusion of his doubles match on Tuesday night, Alexander Zverev has been withdrawn from the tournament in Acapulco,” the ATP said in a statement a few hours later.
The 24-year-old was quick to post on Instagram following that decision.
“It is difficult to put into words how much I regret my behavior during and after the doubles match,” he wrote. “I have privately apologized to the chair umpire because my outburst towards him was wrong and unacceptable, and I am only disappointed in myself. It just should not have happened and there is no excuse. I would also like to apologize to my fans, the tournament, and the sport that I love.
“As you know, I leave everything on the court. Yesterday, I left too much. I am going to take the coming days to reflect — on my actions and how I can ensure that it will not happen again. I am sorry for letting you down.”
It had already been a wild tournament for Zverev, whose first-round match against Jenson Brooksby resulted in tennis’ latest-ever finish–4:55 AM–on Tuesday morning. The match started at 1:36 am and Zverev won 3-6, 7-6(1), 6-2 after three hours and 19 minutes.
Acapulco’s No. 2 seed was supposed to play Peter Gojowyczk in round two. Gojowyczk, already a lucky loser, gets a free pass to the quarterfinals.
thoughts?
He should be suspended for a good whack of time.
Also, his apology wasn’t nearly good enough…
Do you really think that he composed that apology himself? Most likely it was someone from his staff. I suspect that he actually thinks “the referee deserved it”.
Yes, The apology was a PR exercise.
I agree. That apology was pathetic. Nothing will get through to him except being suspended. The next time the person he attacks may not be as fortunate.
You just don’t deliberately go after the chair umpire like that. If you don’t like the call, deal with it! There was no reason for him to get so worked up.
I don’t know tennis as well as others.
Was that the most threatening a player has been to an umpire?
ya, very threatening actions.. the closest one is Serena’s outburst at USO against the line woman.
Probably these are the most threatening actions which were ever caught on TV in an ATP tournament. I think it’s the first time that I actually witness a player physically assaulting a referee in professional tournaments.
There are even scarier stories in ITF tournaments or Davis Cup.
Like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxyT-QZ6Uyo
It was worse in the days of Connors/McEnroe.
This one is right up there:
https://www.tennismajors.com/wimbledon-news/july-1st-1995-the-day-jeff-tarango-default-himself-at-wimbledon-269004.html
Tarango already had a sensationalist reputation (dropping his shorts in one match)
I guess we’re seeing why NoVax is so fond of this guy. He makes Djoker look like a pussycat by comparison. At least Djoker doesn’t deliberately attack officials. And over a doubles match line call? Are you kidding me? He doesn’t need to be fined and suspended. He needs a nice long time out in a rubber room.
He has a very arrogant air of entitlement.H ard to be a fan of.
Big Al, I agree. That’s why most Germans – myself included – are not overly fond of Zverev, although he is the best player with a German passport in a long time. It has been speculated that Zverev is not popular because his origins are Russian, and the family only got German citizenship because they have two sons who are very good at hitting a small yellow ball over a net. While this is certainly true, it’s not the main reason why Zverev isn’t very popular in Germany. Most tennis fans care more about personality than nationality. And Zverev has always come across as an entitled brat. It’s well known here that Sascha has been coddled and spoiled by his parents, which btw was often very hard on his older brother Mischa. Sascha has clearly problems with anger management, and I cannot help thinking that there might be a grain of truth in the accusations of domestic violence by his ex-girlfriend.
Just watched the clip. What horrible, deliberately intimidating behaviour.He certainly showed the world what a nasty temper he’s got. Should face a long ban.
Margot,
Yes. The video was beyond disturbing. I don’t ever remember seeing a player deliberately go after an official like that. This was an attack on the chair umpire. He went back and came after him again.
It was unacceptable. This is a person who needs help. It is mindboggling that he would lose it over a doubles match line call. That is just absurd!
Not often you see a deliberate intimidating attack .Well to be fair he didnt actually hit him but it was close .
Its been a bad year for behaviour so far. In fact the poor umpire has taken the brunt of it .I saw Moutet defaulted because of it, then there was Meddy,Shapo and now Zverev. And there were a couple of incidents on the Golden Swing.
True! I hope this doesn’t become the new norm! To be fair, however, it has to said that there have been decades, when it was far worse! John McEnroe’s fondly remembered “You cannot be serious!!” was utmost polite in comparison with other common outbursts during that era. Jimmy Connors called the umpire an “abortion” during his famous match at the US Open against Aaron Cricksteen – and the spectators laughed about it! However, Zverev came dangerously close to a deliberate physical attack against the umpire. That is far worse than letting off steam verbally.
You’d be surprised also, it’s usually the smart ones that lose their temper because they process a lot of information that others don’t, in a very short space of time. The umpire was probably insensitive to his claims Zverev interpreted it as dishonesty.
The heat and humidity was probably a factor, as well. It has a tendency to tip people over the edge.
The big question is; will Nadal capitalize again on another man’s misfortune? I’ say his chances have gone up considerably being the great Darwinian opportunist that he is.
and who is Djokovic to be giving leadership on the matter after his racquet smash in the USO final and the previous years disqualification. Another great opportunist that comes out of the woodwork to improve his own situation.
The sad thing is, his behavior was probably justified for a host of reasons but they all end up caving in to dumb, ignorant public opinion in fear of the repercussions.
Murray shouldn’t probably be giving guidance on the matter, as well. He is well known for his frequent abusive tirades at his entourage, which i dont have a problem with, at all.
Just accept people express themselves differently. Anyone that thinks we should all go around performing like nuns and priests with all the injustices in the world and the difficulty of life in general, is kidding themselves.
Has anyone recorded Nadal’s decibel levels after the Zverev incident? I bet you they’ve gone up more than 50%.
What a world we live in.
Devil quoting the scriptures.. 🐕🐕🐕🌞🌞🌞
Rafa is least affected by zverevs disquali .he was on the other side of the draw..n Rafa has to beat meddy to get there n there was no guarantee z would get there either given he has to beat tsitsi
But yeah Z needs a suspension for 6 months for sure n that will mean he gets to no 4 n stays there hopefully till french
I mean Rafa gets to 4..however he can get to it without it too as he is barely 200 points behind tsitsi
You’re missing the point; he gets inspiration from other people’s misfortune. It’s all part of the Darwinian mindset.
🐕🐕🐕 🌞🌞🌞🌞
Pity there isn’t a barking emoji. They really should invent one.
#Darwinian mindset”!!😀😂😂😂😂
You can’t make this stuff up!
🐕🐕🐕 🌞🌞🌞
Is Rafa the Hitler of tennis??😂😂
His Darwinian mindset has been awfully helpful to him! Maybe he will invade Poland next!
🐕🐕🐕 🌞🌞🌞
Amy, I will also look for something like a banking emoji! Could be useful 😉
There seems to be one or maybe even a bunch of “Anonymouses”, who are for some reason unhealthily obsessed with Rafa, lol! Even when the discussed subject has nothing at all to do with Rafa. So far no one had even mentioned Rafa. And since he is on the opposite side of the draw, he doesn’t gain anything from Zverev’s disqualification.
Btw, together with a few other prominent players like Murray, Djokovic has also been asked to comment on Zverev – and Novak said that the disqualification was absolutely warranted! Novak has been disqualified after all for something which wasn’t as bad IMO. He had hit a ball in anger, but unlike Zverev, Novak had not deliberately threatened or targeted anyone.
Littlefoot, you need to change banking emoji to barking!
It’s an in- joke between me and Raj after he said that anon was like a dog barking at the sun! That’s why I keep adding dogs and suns emoji!
( Sorry if I am explaining something you know already!😀)
Trying to distract myself from this terrible terrible day of war in Europe. I can scarcely contain my rage with the politicians who enabled this.
As for the UK,by the time we announce sanctions on the Russian laundromat which is London and its financial centres Kiev will be occupied.
It’s beyond shameful. At least your government cancelled Nordstream but why Merkel allowed it is beyond me. I know Schroeder is Putin’s pal and lobbyist but he isn’t CDU!
Fancy a game of tennis with Cameron? Only cost you 160 grand.
You probably should be the wife of as Russian oligarch as well of course. 😉
amy,
I am so upset by Putin invading Ukraine. To make it worse, the Orange Menace had to open his big mouth and praise Putin! The guy is a stone cold traitor.
This is going to be a disaster. Putin is a monster. Interesting that he and Trump were such good buddies.
I am in tears Margot.
Can’t speak.
So disgusted and ashamed.
Solidarity with Ukraine.💙💙💚💚💛💛
Nny, Carlson’s propaganda shows are the worst. They are showing g them in Russia.
There is evidence coming out Russia discussed the invasion with the orange shit.
I really miss Chloro today. I don’t think you know he was from the old Czechoslovakia and was also Jewish. I am sure you know Zelensky is Jewish and there is a large Jewish community in Ukraine. All the countries in the East are at threat now.
I haven’t been so upset since the 2016 election.
Putin is a revolting psychopath. This is nothing to do with NATO.
Sanju,
Don’t feed the 🐕 by replying . Just ignore .
It’s easier said than done. This troll sounds like someone with a lot of anger issues. Also someone without a life. Otherwise why would he come here to spew out nonsense? He makes no sense. Just blabs on incoherently. He obviously dislikes Rafa and his fans.
These people should be banned and kicjedbiff the site. It interferes with the discussion. This person doesn’t even sound like he is connected to reality. He sounds like someone with an axe to grind.
Kicked off the site
You guys are falling for its attention seeking barks. if you all stop responding to its stupid blabs, it will eventually go off.. It needs attention and gets happiness by annoying others.. The more it realizes that you guys are bothered, more it barks.
amy,
Russia discussed the invasion with the Orange Menace? Are they working together?
I did not know that about chloro. Are they going after the Jews?
What is going on with Putin and Trump? Are they laundering money together?
Nny, I only read a small amount about Trump and Putin today from my American sources so I can’t remember the details. They are normally very reliable. I will check on them tomorrow and let you know. Too tired right now.
Trump has been laundering money for the Russians since forever.
I didn’t mean they were specifically going after Jewish people. Just the connections I mentioned. It’s more that chloro is in my mind today. I thought you would be interested in the biographical details as you are Jewish yourself.
amy,
Yes,thank you. I always worry about anti-semitism. It has gotten worse in this country. I read how a lot of right wing fanatics are gravitating to Florida. I think the nut who us head of the right wing group the Oathkeepers is here. There are others. Some who were involved in January 6.
With Little Hitler here as our governor, it’s getting worse.
The Far Right have a lot to answer for…
But they get the balme for everything these days like antivax, conspiracy theories not to mention champagne parties during lockdown…
Zverev obviously has issues, pretty lucky day for Gojo though.
I remember Connors threatening to drag a linesman out of his chair and McEnroe throwing sawdust at people and his famous comment about the CBS Mike at the US Open.