Tokyo Olympics gold medallist Alexander Zverev has been put on probation for one year by the ATP for violently hitting the chair umpire’s stand repeatedly with his racquet after a loss in doubles at the Mexico Open.
If Zverev receives a code violation that results in a fine for unsportsmanlike conduct or for “verbal or physical abuse of an official, opponent, spectator or any other person while on-court or on-site” he will be suspended from ATP events for eight weeks and fined an additional $25,000 ($A34,000), the men’s tennis tour announced.
Zverev, the world No.3, can until Friday appeal the ruling of Miro Bratoev, the ATP senior vice president of rules and competition.
Bratoev conducted a review of an incident as the ATP 500 event in Acapulco, Mexico, and determined that Zverev committed what is termed aggravated behaviour under the major offence section of the ATP rulebook.
The ATP characterised the decision as issuing Zverev a fine and suspension that are being “withheld,” unless his behaviour warrants the punishments.
The probation ends on February 22, 2023 — one year after the episode occurred.
The 24-year-old German, who was the Mexico Open defending champion in singles, was kicked out of the tournament for yelling and cursing at official Alessandro Germani and violently striking the umpire’s chair no fewer than four times.
Just before the incident, Zverev and partner Marcelo Melo lost a doubles match against Lloyd Glasspool and Harri Heliovaara.
Germani gave Zverev a code violation for yelling and swearing while arguing about an opponent’s shot that was ruled in, which set up match point.
Once the match was over Zverev swatted his racquet at the umpire’s stand with Germani still seated in it.
Zverev was initially fined $40,000 ($A55,000) and forfeited more than $30,000 ($A41,000) in prize money, along with all of the rankings points he earned at the Mexico Open.
The ATP said at the time Zverev was docked $20,000 ($A27,500) each for verbal abuse and unsportsmanlike conduct, the maximum on-site penalty for each violation.
Zverev — who later apologised for his behaviour — returned to action late last week and won two singles matches to help Germany beat Brazil in Davis Cup action this weekend.
In October, the ATP opened an investigation into domestic violation accusations from a former girlfriend of Zverev.
Australian Nick Kyrgios was the recipient of the biggest penalty in men’s tennis to date for verbally abusing a chair umpire and smashing two racquets during a match in 2019.
After an initial fine of $113,000 ($A154,000), he was given a suspended ban of 16 weeks and an additional fine of $25,000 ($A34,000) following an ATP investigation.
mushi
Roar Guru
I think they pulled it from the compost
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
He will appeal, the wet lettuce will be fridged and he will have a probationary probation period to commence if he commits a similiar offence with the threat of having the probation period commenced. It's like that scene in Happy Gilmore and Zverev is ironically, "Happy". Happy Gilmore : I gotta play! Shooter McGavin : Doug, kick him off the Tour! Doug Thompson : Well, the board thinks that might be a little extreme, considering that our ratings today were... the highest that we've ever had.
Bell31
Roar Rookie
Like the rest of you, just LOL! (a wilted lettuce leaf @Nick – fantastic). Talk about a weak penalty and what a crappy message to send to up and coming tennis players re ‘umpires are sacrosanct’. I believe there are some precedents that they might be following for similar (but i’d argue less severe) behaviour in the past, but surely, it’s worth testing those precedents and setting an example, even if the ATP is challenged and loses, and surely, it would be worth using the result of any challenge to make any necessary modifications to relevant regulations going forwards. Sigh – I guess if he actually hit the umpire and say broke his ankle, he might have got a 6 month suspended sentence??
E-Meter
Roar Rookie
Imagine if a player threw a ball at the referee/umpire. Or swung a bat near the umpire. It's just gutless work from the ATP. The only thing that will drive more appropriate suspensions is when sponsors start to withdraw prizemoney. That seems very unlikely. They obviously condone this behaviour.
Simoc
Guest
Its ok. He will instantly incur the sanction after his next violation, which is less than 12 months away. And then he will get banned frequently. Tantrums seem to be a common thread among elite male tennis players in their younger versions.
Nick
Roar Guru
Ah, they couldn't even use a wet crisp iceberg leaf. They've gone for the wilted one.
XI
Roar Guru
Well that's the softest penalty I've ever heard