Alexander Zverev news: World No 3 handed suspended ban and additional fine after Mexico meltdown

ATP Tour

Shahida Jacobs
March 8, 2022

There will be no further punishment for Alexander Zverev if he toes the line for the next year after the ATP confirmed that he has been a suspended ban and additional fine following his Mexico Open expulsion.

Zverev lost his cool during his cool during his doubles clash with Brazilian partner Marcelo Melo in Acapulco as he went on an expletive-laden rant against the chair umpire and also hit the official’s chair with his racket.

He was withdrawn from the tournament while he was also handed a fine of $40,000 (about £30,500), forfeited more than $30,000 (approximately £23,000) in prize money and lost all of his rankings points.

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The ATP’s Senior Vice President of Rules & Competition Miro Bratoev conducted an additional review into the incident and it was found that “Zverev committed Aggravated Behaviour under the Player Major Offense section of ATP Rules”.

The Tokyo Olympics gold medallist has been issued an additional fine of $25,000 (roughly £19,000) and was also banned for eight weeks from any ATP-sanctioned event, but both are suspended for a year.

The probation period runs until February 22, 2023 and Zverev will be suspended if he incurs a further code violation for:

– Unsportsmanlike Conduct based upon an act, such as disrespectful or aggressive behaviour directed towards an official, opponent, spectator, or other person during or upon conclusion of a match

– Verbal or Physical Abuse of an official, opponent, spectator, or any other person while on-court or on-site

Zverev, who has until March 11 to appeal against the decision, issued an apology after the incident, saying “I have privately apologised to the chair umpire because my outburst towards him was wrong and unacceptable.”

Meanwhile, former world No 1 Mats Wilander felt the German should have been hit with a ban and sent for rehab.

“To me, money does not do it, and I think you either give someone with that behaviour a three-month suspension or a six-month suspension,” the seven-time Grand Slam winner said.

Alexander Zverev