Picture Credit: Twitter
The World Number one Novak Djokovic recently talked about German Alexander Zvervev’s disqualification from Mexican Open 2022 for attacking the umpire’s chair. The 34-year-old spoke on how the ATP should also interview the official and then decide the punishment.
“I’m sure that the ATP management and officials will look at the video, will probably interview the chair umpire, take some time to decide what they want to decide”, said Djokovic.
“I’m never going to encourage ATP disqualifying or fining a player because I’m not in a position to do that. Why would I do that? I agreed with what Sascha stated in his statement. He said, ‘I made a mistake. It was not appropriate behaviour. I went too far.’ I support that kind of statement. Everyone is a human being, everyone is flawed and can make mistakes.” Further added the 20-time Grand Slam Champion.
What caused Zverev’s disqualification?
Alexander Zverev was part of a second-round men’s doubles matchup with partner Marcelo Melo hailing from Brazil against England’s Llyod Glasspool and Finland’s Harri Heliovarra. The duo of Zverev and Melo lost the first set 2-6 but then retaliated to win the second set 6-4. In the third set but teams were going neck and neck as the match had entered a tiebreaker.
Here the sitting umpire gave a call that went against Zverev and Melo where the German spewed out some abuses for the official. As result, the Glasspool-Heliovarra duo won and qualified for the next round. Then after the defeat, Zverev was seen smashing the umpire chair multiple times expressing his anger which led to his disqualification.
Alexander’s Apology
After the horrendous incident, Zverev issued an apology on his Instagram which said, “It is difficult to put into words how much I regret my behaviour during and after the doubles match yesterday. I have privately apologized to the chair umpire because my outbursts towards him was wrong and unacceptable, and I am only disappointed in myself. It just should not have happened and there is no excuse. I would also like to apologize to my fans, the tournament, and the sport I love.”