ATP Tour suspends Alexander Zverev for eight weeks over Acapulco incident

• ATP Tour has suspended Alexander for eight weeks with an additional fine of $25,000 following his outburst at, Mexican Open in Acapulco
• Zverev was ejected from the ATP 500 tournament in Acapulco due to his unprofessional conduct with the chair umpire
• Zverev smashed his racquet repeatedly on the umpire’s chair after his and his partner’s 6-2 4-6 (10-6) defeat

Things are not looking good for Alexander Zverev as ATP Tour suspended him for eight weeks with an additional fine of $25,000 following his outburst at, Mexican Open in Acapulco.

ATP Tour had earlier fined Zverev $40,000 for smashing the chair umpire’s stand with his racket during a loss in doubles at Mexico Open 2022.

The gold medalist in the Tokyo Olympics will also forfeit more than $30,000 in prize money and all rankings points from the Mexican Open.

Then, the ATP said it would conduct a full review of his conduct, and announce disciplinary measures it will take against world No.3.

On Tuesday, ATP Tour in a statement dropped the bombshell on Zverev by suspending him on top of an additional fine.

ATP Tour suspended Alexander Zverev over his Acapulco outburst. Photo/Daily Sabah

“Zverev has been issued an additional fine of 25,000 and a suspension for a period of 8 weeks from any ATP-sanctioned event,” part of the statement read.

“Both the fine and suspension are on probation over a period ending 22 February 2023.”

But, the fine and suspension are placed on probation until February 22, 2023. If no additional code violations are found, the suspension will be lifted.

ATP’s Senior Vice President of Rules & Competition Miro Barotev conducted a full review of Zverev’s ‘unsportsmanlike’ conduct.

The men’s professional tennis tour defines ‘unsportsmanlike’ conduct as aggression and physical or verbal abuse.

“Unsportsmanlike Conduct based upon an act, such as disrespectful or aggressive behaviour directed towards an official, opponent, spectator, or another 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.”

If the conditions are met, the penalties will be formally dismissed following the completion of the probation period. If the conditions are not met, the penalties will be invoked after any appeal process is exhausted.

Zverev already received a total of $40,000 in on-site fines for verbal abuse and unsportsmanlike conduct in Acapulco. He also forfeited full prize money of $31,570 (singles and doubles), as well as all ATP Rankings points from the event.

Zverev was ejected from the ATP 500 tournament in Acapulco due to his unprofessional conduct with the chair umpire. During Zverev’s doubles match with Marcelo Melo against the British-Finnish duo of Lloyd Glasspool and Harri Heliovaara, a scuffle ensued.

Zverev smashed his racquet repeatedly on the umpire’s chair after his and his partner’s 6-2 4-6 (10-6) defeat, despite official Alessandro Germani sitting on it.

Alexander Zverev.[Credit/dw.com]

“It is difficult to put into words how much I regret my behaviour during and after the doubles match yesterday. I have privately apologised to the chair umpire because my outburst towards him was wrong and unacceptable.”

“As you know I leave everything out on the court. Yesterday I left too much. I am going to take the coming days to reflect on my actions and how I can ensure that it will not happen again,” he wrote.

This is the second probe ATP Tour is conducting on Zverev in less than a year.

Olga Sharypova, Zverev’s ex-girlfriend, accused him of domestic violence in October 2021 prompting ATP to initiate an internal investigation into the matter.