The 2022 ATP500 Acapulco race is underway, and in that race Zverev played in the men's singles and men's doubles matches. In today's men's doubles match, Zverev partnered Melo to lose 2-6, 6-4, 6-10 to lucky loser Graspur/Heliovara. But after this match, Zverev was dissuaded from the race.
Why is this so, because during the game, in the tiebreaker to grab ten sets, Zverev and Melo fell behind 6-8, Merlot served out of bounds, only to be picked up by the opponent and awarded a good ball by the referee. Zverev was very dissatisfied with the referee's decision and began to verbally attack the referee, and this insult to the referee allowed Zverev/Melo to be fined a point directly.
Graspur/Heliovara, who got the match points, ended the match with the Aces. After the match, Zverev was visibly out of control and slammed the referee with his racket, almost hitting the referee's right foot, and Zverev was "withdrawn" from the tournament.
The match immediately issued a statement: Alexander Zverev had withdrawn from Acapulco's match due to his unsportsmanlike behaviour at the end of his doubles match on Tuesday night. Under the RULES OFP, he will face a fine of up to $20,000 and will not receive a single point for the prize money he won in this competition.
After being "dissuaded" by the organizers of the Acapulco tournament, Zverev apologized for his post-doubles violations and claimed he would reflect to ensure that similar incidents would not happen in the future. Zverev said: "It is difficult for me to express in words how much I regret it, I regret my actions in the doubles game, as well as after the match, and I have privately expressed my apologies to the referee. Because it was wrong and unacceptable to be mad at him, I was disappointed in myself. ”
Zverev continued: "This should not happen, and there is no excuse. I also want to apologize to the fans, the tournament and the sport of tennis that I love. As you know, I spare no effort on the pitch. But yesterday, I went too far. Over the next few days I will reflect on my behavior and find a way to make sure that it doesn't happen again. Sorry to disappoint everyone. ”