Alexander Zverev fined $40,000 and could face investigation over Acapulco tennis racquet smash

Already fined thousands for his violent racquet outburst, German tennis star Alexander Zverev could yet be subject to more punishments. Here’s why.

Alexander Zverev has apologised for his behaviour. Picture: AFP Images

World number three Alexander Zverev, who was thrown out of the Mexico Open at Acapulco this week after repeatedly smashing his racquet against the umpire’s chair, was fined $40,000 by the ATP on Thursday.

Zverev was fined $20,000 for verbal abuse and $20,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct, the ATP said in a statement.

“This represents the maximum fine per each violation,” the ATP said, noting that Zverev also forfeits prize money of $31,570 he would have earned in singles and doubles and all ATP rankings points from the tournament.

“A further review of the incident will now follow per ATP rules,” the ATP said. Germany’s Zverev, the world number three who won Olympic gold in Tokyo last year, lost his temper after he and doubles partner Marcelo Melo of Brazil were beaten 6-2, 4-6, 10-6 by Britain’s Lloyd Glasspool and Harri Heliovaara of Finland.

Zverev, the defending singles champion in Acapulco, smashed his racquet 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 a final time.

Zverev’s behaviour was condemned by fellow pros, including Acapulco rival Rafael Nadal of Spain as well as Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, who were competing this week in Dubai.

Zverev himself posted an apology on his Instagram account, saying his actions were “unacceptable.”

ZVEREV’S GROVELLING APOLOGY OVER OUTBURST

Alexander Zverev has issued a grovelling apology on social media after his extraordinary outburst which led to disqualification from the Acapulco tournament.

Zverev took to Instagram on Thursday, saying he regretted his wild actions and had apologised to the chair umpire.

“It is difficult to put into words how much I regret my behaviour during and after the doubles match yesterday,” Zverev said.

“I have privately apologized (sic) 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 like to apologise to my fans, the tournament and the sport I love.”

READ ZVEREV’S FULL APOLOGY BELOW

Earlier, Novak Djokovic deemed the tour’s decision to disqualify Zverev from the Acapulco tournament as “correct” while Andy Murray described the German’s racquet-smashing spree as “dangerous” and “reckless”.

Djokovic, playing his first tournament since his deportation from Australia, continued his fight to keep his number one ranking with a convincing 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) victory over Karen Khachanov in Dubai to move into his 10th consecutive quarter-final on Wednesday.

The Serb later weighed in on Zverev’s violent behaviour towards a chair umpire that got him kicked out of the ATP event in Acapulco.

Zverev went on a tirade over a disputed call during his doubles opener alongside Marcelo Melo, verbally abusing the official and repeatedly hitting the umpire’s chair with his racquet at the end of the match.

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The moment Alexander Zverev struck the umpire’s chair.

The ATP tour announced that Zverev had been “withdrawn” from the tournament “due to unsportsmanlike conduct” and the world number three will not be able to defend his singles title in Acapulco.

Zverev later issued a statement regretting his behaviour and apologised to the official for his “wrong and unacceptable” outburst.

Djokovic, who was disqualified from the US Open in 2020 for accidentally hitting a line judge with a ball, said he expects 24-year-old Zverev to reflect on what he has done.

“I think he said it all in that statement. He realises that it was a mistake. I understand the frustration. Sometimes on the court you feel in the heat of the battle lots of different emotions,” said Djokovic.

Alexander Zverev’s Instagram apology.

This is what Alexander Zverev has posted on his Instagram account after smashing his racquet repeatedly into the chair of the umpire within an inch of his feet, and getting thrown out of Acapulco … pic.twitter.com/oXvmt8lETS

— The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) February 23, 2022

“I made mistakes in the past where I’ve had tantrums on the court. I understand what the player is going through. But, of course, I do not justify his actions. He has, with the words that he had in the statement, handled it in a right way.”

The ATP has yet to reveal the extent of the fine Zverev will no doubt be handed, and it is unclear whether a suspension is on the table.

Djokovic firmly stated he would never encourage the tour to hand out harsh sanctions against a player and said there were many others who have committed similar offences.

“I’m never going to encourage ATP disqualifying or fining a player because I’m not in a position to do that. Why would I do that?,” said the 20-time major winner.

Former World No. 1 Andy Murray was stronger in condemning the behaviour of Zverev.

“It was dangerous, reckless,” Murray said after his loss to young gun Jannik Sinner.

Alexander Zverev has apologised for his behaviour. Picture: AFP Images

“I’ve not always acted in the way I would want on the tennis court. I’m certainly not claiming to be an angel,” added the Scot, who received a code violation for racquet abuse on Wednesday.

“However, when you’re ripping your tennis racquet right next to the umpire multiple times, yeah, you can’t be doing that.”

Zverev posted a public apology after being kicked out of the tournament.

“It is difficult to put into words how much I regret my behaviour during and after the doubles match yesterday,” he wrote.

“I have privately apologised 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.”

Originally published as Alexander Zverev fined $40,000 and could face investigation over Acapulco tennis racquet smash