Alexander Zverev
That’s how expensive his outburst in Acapulco is
© PanoramiC / imago images
Alexander Zverev caused a scandal in the doubles round of 16: After the defeat, the tennis star hammered his racket against the referee’s chair, before he insulted him as an idiot. An outburst of anger with financial consequences.
These are scenes that don’t belong on the tennis court. Alexander Zverev, 24, and his doubles partner Marcelo Melo, 38, lose to Lloyd Glasspool, 28, and Harri Heliovaara, 32, 2-6, 6-4, 6-10 in the round of 16 in Acapulco on February 23, 2022. Shortly before the end of the game, the Italian referee Alessandro Germani decides in a tight situation to Zverev’s disadvantage – and thus causes the camel to overflow.
Alexander Zverev freaks out, insults Germani as a “damn idiot” and goes after him after the match to hammer the referee’s chair four times with full force. He commented on previous warnings with a “F *** off”. After his freak out, the 24-year-old was excluded from his further matches in singles.
Alexander Zverev: “I’m sorry I disappointed you”
A decision that apparently made Zverev think. Shortly after the fateful match, he spoke up on Instagram with remorseful lines. “It’s hard to put into words how much I regret my behavior during and after yesterday’s doubles. I have privately apologized to the chair umpire because my outburst towards him was wrong and unacceptable and I’m only disappointed in myself. It shouldn’t have happened and there is no excuse,” writes the athlete, apologizing to his fans, the tournament and the sport.
© instagram.com/alexzverev123/
He continues: “As you know, I give everything on the pitch. Yesterday was clearly too much. I will use the coming days to think about my actions and how I can ensure that something like this doesn’t happen again. It does I’m sorry I disappointed you.”
Outburst of anger with financial consequences
But even this apology does not deprive the tennis professional of a five-digit financial penalty. As the ATP announced on Thursday, February 24, 2022, Zverev has to pay a fine of 40,000 US dollars (around 35,600 euros). He also has to pay back the prize money of more than 30,000 US dollars (around 26,700 euros). The points for the world rankings go flutes. The ATP also announced an investigation.
Sophia Thomalla had to experience freak out
Particularly tragic: Zverev’s girlfriend, Sophia Thomalla, 32, had to experience Zverev’s freak out up close. The moderator traveled to Acapulco, Mexico, to provide support. Recordings from the “Sky” broadcaster show the 32-year-old holding her hands in front of her face in disbelief. Zverev and Thomalla only made their relationship official in October 2021, since then they have been inseparable. Sophia Thomalla also has no problem with being a player – actually. Will she continue to cheer on her partner even after his outburst?
Sources used: instagram.com, Sky, dpa