Alexander Zverev put on 1-year probation after misconduct at Mexico Open

Alexander Zverev smashed his racket against the umpire’s chair after losing a doubles match in the Mexican Open on Feb 22, 2022.

Zverev was thrown out of the Mexico Open after striking the umpire’s chair thrice with his racket and accusing the umpire, Alessandro Germani, of destroying the whole match.

Umpire Alessandro Germani gave Zverev a code violation for yelling and swearing mid-game. And once the match was over, the fuming German attacked the umpire’s stand and has been punished for the reckless, harsh behaviour. Following his outburst, the Tokyo Olympics gold medalist was put on probation for one year by the ATP.

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During this period, if the German receives a code violation due to misconduct or any form of abuse of an official, opponent, or any other person on-site, he will be suspended from all ATP events for eight weeks. He will also have to pay an additional $25,000 fine.

If Zverev receives a code violation that results in a fine for unsportsmanlike conduct or for “verbal or physical abuse of an official, opponent, spectator or any other person while on-court or on-site,” he will be suspended from ATP events for eight weeks and fined an additional $25,000, the men’s tennis tour announced on its website.

The 24-year-old had already been fined $40,000, and $30,000 of his prize money has been confiscated. Along with financial punishments, he also lost all the ranking points he earned at the Mexico Open.

World No.3 has until Friday to appeal this ruling given by Miro Bratoev, the ATP senior Vice President of rules and competition. After conducting a review of the incident, Bratoev determined that Zverev’s actions come under the major offence section of the ATP rulebook.