Germany’s best tennis player Alexander Zverev last went berserk in the doubles after a defeat. He was suspended for the singles in Acapulco. Now the further penalties have been made public.
His behaviour has already had its first consequences. Now the next ones follow: Olympic champion Alexander Zverev has to pay a fine of 40,000 US dollars (about 35,600 euros) after his outburst of rage at the tennis tournament in Acapulco. In addition, he must pay back the prize money of more than 30,000 US dollars (around 26,700 euros).
He will lose the points for the world ranking, as the ATP announced on Thursday. There is also to be a further investigation.
Zverev viciously insulted the umpire
Zverev was disqualified on Tuesday after his freak-out following his doubles defeat at the Acapulco tournament. Germany’s best tennis player had hit the umpire’s chair several times with his racket, on which the umpire was still sitting, after his 2-6, 6-4, 6-10 defeat with his Brazilian doubles partner Marcelo Melo against Britain’s Lloyd Glasspool and Finland’s Harri Heliovaara. He had also called the umpire a lot of names.
Zverev had previously been upset about a decision by the referee. The men’s organisation ATP reacted and excluded the 24-year-old from the rest of the tournament for “unsportsmanlike conduct”.
The pro later apologised and described his behaviour as unacceptable. On Instagram, he wrote, among other things: “It’s hard to put into words how much I regret my behaviour during and after yesterday’s doubles”. Last year, Alexander Zverev won the tournament in Acapulco. By his behaviour, he robbed himself of the possibility of defending the title.
