ACAPULCO, Mexico — German
Olympic tennis champion
Alexander Zverev has been expelled from the Mexican
Open in Acapulco after smashing his racket on the umpire's chair several times
and directing a foul-mouthed rant at the official, the ATP announced Wednesday.
اضافة اعلان
"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been withdrawn from the tournament in Acapulco," the governing body for
men's tennis tweeted.
Zverev – ranked number three in the
world – lost his cool when he and doubles partner Marcelo Melo of Brazil were
beaten 6-2, 4-6, 10-6 by Britain's Lloyd Glasspool and Harri Heliövaara of
Finland.
The 24-year-old defending champion
smashed his racket 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 one last time.
He had apparently been irked by a
line call during the match.
Zverev had been involved in a
marathon first-round singles clash with American Jenson Brooksby that had
finished early Tuesday morning – the latest-ever finish to a professional
tennis match.
Zverev saved two match points before
completing a 3-6, 7-6 (12/10), 6-2 win at 4:54 am local time (1054 GMT).
The first-round tie at the ATP event
lasted three hours and 19 minutes.
Zverev's mood may have been affected
by fatigue after another long match in the doubles defeat, but he nevertheless
risks further punishment from the ATP.
"If the Senior Vice President
Rules & Competition determines that the default was particularly injurious
to the success of the tournament or detrimental to the integrity of the sport,
he may consider additional penalties (fines and/or suspensions)," reads
the ATP rule book.
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