LONDON: Men’s tennis governing body has handed world No 3 Alexander Zverev a suspended eight-week ban for smashing his racquet against the umpire’s chair at last month’s ATP 500 event in Acapulco, for which he was expelled from the tournament.
Zverev was fined US$20,000 for verbal abuse, US$20,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct and forfeited more than US$31,000 in prize money and all rankings points earned from singles and doubles action at the Abierto Mexicano tournament.
Following a review, the ATP found that the 24-year-old German had committed “aggravated behaviour” under the Player Major Offence section of their rules and issued an additional fine of US$25,000 and eight-week suspension from any ATP-sanctioned event.
But the ATP said the fine and suspension was withheld on the condition that, over a probation period ending on Feb 22, 2023, a year after the incident, Zverev has not incurred any more fines for unsportsmanlike conduct, verbal or physical abuse.