‘Absolute disgrace’: ATP blasted for ‘shameful’ response to Alexander Zverev’s attack on umpire

The governing body of men’s tennis has been blasted for its extremely weak punishment for a star’s violent attack on an umpire.

The governing body of men’s tennis has been roundly slammed after it handed down its penalty to world No. 3 Alexander Zverev for his violent attack on an umpire last month.

The German was disqualified from the Mexican Open in Acapulco after he lashed out verbally and violently at the chair umpire during a doubles match.

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Zverev was furious with a contentious line call and completely lost his temper, launching an expletive-laden tirade at the umpire.

He screamed at the umpire: “Look where the ball bounced … 8-6 in the tiebreak … for f***s sake … it’s f***ing your line … f***ing idiot.”

In a display of blatant intimidation after losing the match, Zverev firmly whacked the umpire’s chair several times with his racquet, only just missing his feet and legs as the umpire visibly flinched to escape harm’s way.

Zverev was immediately kicked out from the tournament but calls from tennis fans for the 24-year-old to face a lengthy suspension from the tour have fallen on deaf ears.

On Tuesday, the ATP announced Zverev had been fined AU$34,000 and handed a suspended eight-week ban from the tour, meaning he is still allowed to play in ATP events.

The ATP also confirmed Zverev is now on a one-year probation period and if he reoffends and commits another unsportsmanlike act, he will be suspended from ATP events for eight weeks and fined an additional $25,000 (USD).

Alexander Zverev violently lashed out at a chair umpire at the Mexican Open.

Many tennis fans had been urging the ATP to issue a ban long enough that Zverev would miss the next grand slam — the French Open, which begins in late May.

Incredulous fans and pundits blasted the ATP for issuing such a weak punishment that means Zverev, the Tokyo Olympics gold medallist, is still free to play professional tennis tournaments.

American tennis legend Pam Shriver tweeted: “Name another sport that would not protect it’s officials who have been physically attacked and intimidated by a competitor, by serving a probation vs a suspension? What am I missing?”.

AAP’s Scott Bailey said: “Ladies and gentleman, we have a winner for the weakest sporting body in world sport. Disgraceful.”

Sports reporter Oliver Caffrey said: “Alexander Zverev given a suspended (!) eight-week ban for THAT outburst in Acapulco. Completely embarrassing reaction from the ATP to one of the worst incidents seen on the tennis court in years.”

ATP Tour weak as water.

— Ashley Browne (@hashbrowne) March 8, 2022

Journalist Allen McDuffee: “Reading this, you could almost get the impression that the ATP has done something about Zverev’s Acapulco sh*t show.”

The Athletic’s Lukas Weese: “Alexander Zverev shouldn’t have been playing to begin with, had the ATP conducted a proper investigation into the allegations of domestic violence.

The ATP has whacked Alexander Zverev with a wet lettuce leaf for his attack on an umpire. (Photo by MAURO PIMENTEL / AFP)

“Now, he gets an additional $25,000 fine and an eight week suspension for threatening violence against an umpire. Shameful.”

Sports editor Russell Bennett added: “This shouldn’t divide anyone. Everyone should be united — it’s an absolute disgrace and the @atptour looks like a laughing stock.”

Australian sports broadcaster Andy Maher simply posted: “Pitiful @atptour”.

Zverev was initially fined AU$56,000 for his outburst and was also forced to forfeit more than $42,000 in prizemoney and all rankings points from the ATP tournament in Acapulco.

He apologised for the attack on the umpire in a statement, saying there “was no excuse” for smashing his racket on the umpire’s chair several times and his foul-mouthed rant at the official was “unacceptable”

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

“I have privately apologised to the chair umpire because my outburst towards him was wrong and unacceptable.”

Zverev played in Germany’s Davis Cup qualifier tie against Brazil in Rio de Janeiro on the weekend.