[ad_1]
Germany’s Alexander Zverev has been kicked out of the Mexican Open after striking the umpire’s chair with his racket multiple times following a doubles loss.
Zverev, partnering with Brazilian tennis player Marcelo Melo in doubles, came perilously close to hitting umpire Alessandro Germani when Zverev repeatedly hit the umpire’s chair with his racket after a 6-2, 4-6, 10-6 loss to the British-Finn pair of Lloyd Glasspool and Harri Heliovaara at the ATP 500 tournament in Acapulco, Mexico.
“Due to unsportsmanlike conduct at the conclusion of his doubles match on Tuesday night, Alexander Zverev has been withdrawn from the tournament in Acapulco,” the ATP said in a statement.
Zverev wrote in an Instagram story that he regretted his behavior and apologized for the incident.
“It is difficult to put into words how much I regret my behavior during and after the doubles match yesterday. I have privately apologized to the chair umpire because my outburst towards him was wrong and unacceptable, and I am only disappointed in myself,” Zverev wrote. “It just should not have happened and there is no excuse. I would also like to apologize to my fans, the tournament, and the sport that I love.
“As you know, I leave everything on the court. Yesterday, I left too much. I am going to take the coming days to reflect — on my actions and how I can ensure that it will not happen again. I am sorry for letting you down.”
After shaking hands with the opponents, Zverev, ranked third in singles, approached the umpire’s chair and hit it repeatedly before heading toward his courtside seat. He was upset over a line call during the match.
He approached the chair a second time and once again hit it while shouting expletives. Germani pulled his feet back at one point for fear of being hit.
As the crowd booed, Zverev handed his damaged racket to a child in the front row.
Zverev, 24, had received a code violation after yelling and swearing in protest of a shot that was ruled in, setting up match…
[ad_2]
Source : espn
