(CNN)Alexander Zverev has been withdrawn from the Mexican Open for “unsportsmanlike conduct” after repeatedly hitting the umpire’s chair with his racquet after losing in doubles.
After losing the match point to Lloyd Glasspool and Harri Heliovaara along with playing partner Marcelo Melo, Zverev went to the referee’s chair and hit him three times.
“You fucking destroyed the whole fucking match. You ruined the whole damn match,” Zverev can be heard yelling at the referee before returning to his chair to meet him again, telling the time.
Glasspool and Heliovaara can be seen flinching and stopping in their tracks while standing right behind Zverev.
The world No. 3 was also seen calling the referee a “fucking idiot” during the game after being frustrated with a line call during the crucial super tie-break.
“Due to unsportsmanlike behavior at the end of his doubles match on Tuesday evening, Alexander Zverev was withdrawn from the tournament in Acapulco,” says an ATP statement.
The ATP Rules define unsportsmanlike conduct as “any misconduct by a player that is clearly abusive or detrimental to the success of a tournament, the ATP and/or the sport” and is punishable by a fine of up to US$20,000.
However, incidents that are “blatant and particularly damaging to the success of a tournament” could be referred to the ATP EPP Rules & Competition, which would conduct an investigation.
Zverev later apologized in a post on his Instagram page.
“It’s hard to put into words how much I regret my behavior during and after yesterday’s doubles,” he wrote. “I have privately apologized to the chair umpire because my outburst to him was wrong and unacceptable and I am only disappointed in myself.
“It just shouldn’t have happened and there are no apologies. I also want to apologize to my fans, the tournament and the sport I love. As you know, I leave everything on the pitch. Yesterday I left too much .
“I will use the coming days to reflect on my actions and how I can ensure that something like this doesn’t happen again. I’m sorry I let you down.”
Zverev’s exit from the tournament also includes the singles draw in which he set the record for the youngest finish in ATP Tour history a day earlier.
The German’s 3-6, 7-6, 6-2 win over American Jenson Brooksby ended at 4:55 a.m. local time on Tuesday, beating the previous record of 4:34 a.m. set by Lleyton Hewitt and Marcos Baghdatis set up for the Australian Open 2008.
His German compatriot Peter Gojowczyk, against whom Zverev should play in the next round, has received an acquittal for the quarterfinals.
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