World No3 Alexander Zverev has been booted out of the Mexican Open after attacking the umpire’s chair with his racquet during an astonishing rant.
The Olympic champion and doubles partner Marcelo Melo were furious with a line call during the closing stages of their 6-2 4-6 10-6 tie-break defeat to Lloyd Glasspool and Harri Heliovaara.
Zverev shook hands at the net after the final point but then turned his rage on the umpire, lashing out at the chair with his racquet three times before returning for a fourth crack as the umpire descended the stairs.
The German also launched an expletive-laden attack on the official over what he felt was a ball incorrectly called out.
“You destroyed the whole ******* match. The whole ******* match,” Zverev yelled.
The 24-year-old is the defending singles champion at the event of Acapulco and had been due to face countryman Peter Gojowczyk in the second round but has now been removed from the tournament.
“Due to unsportsmanlike conduct at the conclusion of his doubles match on Tuesday night, Alexander Zverev has been withdrawn from the tournament in Acapulco,” an ATP statement read.
