Germany’s Alexander Zverev has been kicked out of the Mexican Open after striking the umpire’s chair with his racket multiple times following a doubles loss.
Zverev, partnering with Brazilian tennis player Marcelo Melo in doubles, came perilously close to hitting umpire Alessandro Germani when Zverev repeatedly hit the umpire’s chair with his racket after a 6-2, 4-6, 10-6 loss to the British-Finn pair of Lloyd Glasspool and Harri Heliovaara at the ATP 500 tournament in Acapulco, Mexico.
“Due to unsportsmanlike conduct at the conclusion of his doubles match on Tuesday night, Alexander Zverev has been withdrawn from the tournament in Acapulco,” the ATP said in a statement.
Zverev wrote in an Instagram story that he regretted his behavior and apologized for the incident.
“It is difficult to put into words how much I regret my behavior during and after the doubles match yesterday. I have privately apologized to the chair umpire because my outburst towards him was wrong and unacceptable, and I am only disappointed in myself,” Zverev wrote. “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.”
After shaking hands with the opponents, Zverev, ranked third in singles, approached the umpire’s chair and hit it repeatedly before heading toward his courtside seat. He was upset over a line call during the match.
He approached the chair a second time and once again hit it while shouting expletives. Germani pulled his feet back at one point for fear of being hit.
As the crowd booed, Zverev handed his damaged racket to a child in the front row.
“It’s a shame for the tournament and for the fans what happened yesterday,” said tournament director Raul Zurutuza. “However, unsportsmanlike conducts are unacceptable. The rulebook is clear about it, and it has to be enforced.”
Zverev, 24, had received a code violation after yelling and swearing in protest of a shot that was ruled in, setting up match point. Glasspool ended the match with an ace.
The former US Open finalist completed a first-round win over American Jenson Brooksby in the Abierto Mexicano tournament at 4:55 a.m. local time Tuesday, the latest-ever finish for a professional tennis match.
Zverev, last year’s winner, was scheduled to meet fellow German Peter Gojowczyk, who will now get a walkover to advance to the quarterfinals.
Zverev’s angry outburst could earn him more sanctions from the men’s governing body.
In 2019, after an initial fine of $113,000 for swearing at and berating an umpire and smashing a couple of rackets at the Western and Southern Open, Australian Nick Kyrgios was handed a suspended ban of 16 weeks and an additional fine of $25,000 for “aggravated behaviour” by the ATP following an internal investigation.
The ATP in October launched an internal investigation into allegations of domestic abuse against Zverev by his ex-girlfriend Olga Sharypova.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.