Mats Wilander has questioned the handling of Alexander Zverev’s recent disqualification from the Mexican Open for unsportsmanlike conduct.
In Acapulco the world No.3 ended up getting kicked out of the ATP 500 event following a confrontation with an umpire during his first round doubles match. Zverev, who was playing alongside Brazil’s Marcelo Melo, lost his cool during the final set tiebreaker. A Melo serve out wide was returned in by their opponent and was called good by the umpire. Even though fans and Zverev argued that the ball landed out. The placement of the shot was directly below the umpire’s chair and therefore he had the best view of it. However, Zverev was furious with the decision.
“Look where the ball bounced for F*ck sake. It’s your line. It’s f*cking your line. You f*cking idiot. F*ck off!” Zverev shouted at the umpire.
Following the outburst the German was handed a code violation for an audible obscenity. Then after the match ended he struck the umpire’s chair with his racket three times out of anger whilst the official was still sitting in it. During one of those swipes he nearly hit the right foot of the umpire. He then swore at the official two further times before hitting his chair once again.
As a result of his actions, the German was fined $20,000 for verbal abuse and an additional $20,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct. He also lost all of his prize money and ranking points earned in Mexico.
However, former world No.1 Wilander has told Eurosport that he believes Zverev should have been penalized further and made to go through a rehab programme before playing in major tournaments again as a consequence of his behaviour.
“If a player breaks his racquet on the umpire’s chair and he is literally a few centimetres away from hitting the umpire’s leg, he should not be allowed to get on a tennis court until he has gone through some kind of rehab, some kind of time,” Wilander told Eurosport.
“We need to punish him accordingly, and allowing him to come out and play professional tennis the week after or two weeks after, that is too soon.”
Wilander, who won seven Grand Slam titles during his career, believes that a temporary ban would have a more suitable penalty issued to the tennis star or any other player who commits such an offence. In 2019 Nick Kyrgios was hit with a 16-week suspended sentence for “aggravated behaviour” following an investigation into his match at the Cincinnati Masters where he swore and spat at umpire Fergus Murphy.
“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. You do not allow him to play the most important tournaments on his calendar. Now, the most important tournaments are most probably the Grand Slams, the ATP 1000, the Davis Cup,” Wilander continued.
“I mean, I do not know where you draw the line, but certainly going out and competing in any shape or form straight away, it does not seem like that is very fair to other players.”
Zverev apologized for his behaviour in a statement posted on social media in which he said he would be taking time to ‘reflect’ on his actions. He will be returning to action this weekend in the Davis Cup tie between Germany and Brazil in Rio de Janeiro. German captain Michael Kohlmann says he hopes to use the tie as a way to ‘help’ the 24-year-old.
“His behaviour in Acapulco was without question unacceptable and wrong. Alexander himself recognised that and apologized for it. We now want to help him as a team to get through this difficult phase.” He said.
This weekend will be the first time Zverev has played in a Davis Cup tie since February 2019.
