Alex Zverev thrown out of Acapulco tournament after tantrum
German Olympic tennis champion Alexander Zverev has been expelled from the Mexican Open in Acapulco after smashing his racket on the umpire’s chair several times and directing a foul-mouthed rant at the official, the ATP announced on Wednesday.
Aviso importante @atptour
Due to unsportsmanlike conduct at the conclusion of his doubles match on Tuesday night, Alexander Zverev has been withdrawn from the tournament in Acapulco.
— Abierto Mexicano (@AbiertoTelcel) February 23, 2022
“Due to unsportsmanlike conduct at the conclusion of his doubles match on Tuesday night, Alexander Zverev has been withdrawn from the tournament in Acapulco,” the governing body for men’s tennis tweeted.
Zverev — ranked number three in the world — lost his cool when he and doubles partner Marcelo Melo of Brazil were beaten 6-2, 4-6, 10-6 by Britain’s Lloyd Glasspool and Harri Heliövaara of Finland.
Alexander Zverev did this in front of a considerable crowd.
Can't even imagine how it would have been for Olga Sharypova behind closed doors. Her domestic abuse allegations against him need to be investigated and dealt with. https://t.co/IgqeI9Apkm
— Saurabh Somani (@saurabh_42) February 23, 2022
The 24-year-old defending champion smashed his racket three times just below umpire Alessandro Germani’s feet before taking his seat and then rising again to verbally abuse the official and smash the chair one last time.
He had apparently been irked by a line call during the match.