Berlin – Despite his highly inappropriate behaviour at the tournament in Acapulco, Alexander Zverev is allowed to continue playing on the tennis tour and thus also compete in the upcoming desert classic in Indian Wells.
The Hamburg player received an eight-week ban for his freak-out at the ATP tournament in the Mexican seaside resort, but the men’s professional organisation ATP suspended this sanction for one year as well as an additional fine of 25,000 dollars.
As the ATP announced, Zverev is now not allowed to commit another offence until 22 February 2023 – one year after the incident – or the sanctions will take effect after all. The Olympic champion has until Friday to appeal the result of the investigation. There was initially no reaction from him.
The world number three had hit his racket several times against the umpire’s chair, on which the umpire was still sitting, after a defeat in the doubles at the tournament in Acapulco. He was disqualified and had to pay a 40,000 dollar fine. In addition, the Hamburg player has to pay back the prize money of more than 30,000 dollars and loses the points for the world ranking.
Zverev wants to learn lessons from the incident
Zverev apologised for his inglorious performance via Instagram. It was hard to put into words how much he regretted his behaviour, he wrote. He had also apologised privately to the chair umpire and wanted to learn the lessons from the incident. “I will use the coming days to reflect on my actions and how I can ensure that something like this does not happen again,” the 24-year-old wrote.
Last weekend, Zverev had led the German Davis Cup team to a 3:1 victory in their first round match in Brazil. Initially, his participation in Rio de Janeiro was not planned at all because the date did not fit into his personal tournament schedule. Zverev was convincing from a sporting point of view with two victories in the singles, but he was troubled by the fact that Brazilian fans insulted him and alluded to his disqualification in Acapulco.
Zverev about Rio audience: “Line crossed”.
The spectators had crossed a line, the German number one complained. “You can hate me, dislike me. But when it’s against your family or against someone you love, then a line is crossed,” Zverev said. “And that was crossed in virtually every single game here today.”
It now continues at the tournament in Indian Wells. The men’s first-round matches begin in the Californian desert this Thursday, but Zverev will initially be given a bye and will not enter until the second round.
Former world number one Mats Wilander from Sweden had recently brought a three- to six-month suspension and a ban from the most important tournaments, which also include the event in Indian Wells, into the discussion with the broadcaster Eurosport. First of all, a certain period of rehabilitation is necessary, only a fine is not enough, said Wilander.