Tennis
WATCH: Alexander Zverev Launches Sweary Tongue-Lashing at Umpire During Shanghai Masters Third Round
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Get to know Charlie Rhodes betterPublished12 hours ago on October 08, 2024
Alexander Zverev is the latest player to launch a scathing attack on Shanghai Masters umpires, closely following an-already controversial opening to the tournament.
Alexander Zverev Claims Umpires Are Ruining the Shanghai Masters
Alexander Zverev’s explicit barrage on Tuesday’s Round of 32 was the latest in a series of extraordinary outbursts so far in Shanghai.
It follows Frances Tiafoe’s final set tiebreak defeat on Tuesday, after which he yelled “f*ck you” repeatably towards the umpire as he departed the court.
It will likely see the American land in hot water, with experts predicting financial sanctions from the ATP.
Zverev meanwhile may find himself lucky to escape sanctions after a heated exchange with the umpire during his third round match against Tallon Griekspoor.
Mohamed Lahyani – the umpire for the match – decreed that Zverev failed to chase down a ball in time, instead calling that the ball had bounced twice before he reached it.
Despite video replays showing the ball did indeed bounce twice, the world number three was quick to disagree.
“How on earth are you calling that? I got the ball completely clean?” Zverev exclaimed.
After the umpire tried to calm the situation, the German continued: “Let me say something, you guys umpires are f***ing up the whole tournament this year. Completely.
“Carlos Bernardes completely messed up Stan [Wawrinka]’s match yesterday. The guy doing Tiafoe’s match completely messed up Tiafoe’s match. And now this.”
Zverev also not happy with the umpire. I think players have seen blatant double standards in the sport and some players treated more favourably than others and it’s really getting to them.
Griekspoor just taken 2nd set 6-2, so it’s now a final set decider.pic.twitter.com/bdqUJlDMkQ
— Pavvy G (@pavyg) October 8, 2024
“I’ve played more than 80 matches this year, with injuries, with illness, with everything. And I cannot be bothered to go to China in October for you to screw up this. This is not possible. I’ve been playing for nine months now.”
Sky Sports tennis commentator Colin Fleming was perplexed by Alexander Zverev’s behaviour, claiming “he’s someone who thinks he’s above the rules” and said “Lahyani has got the call absolutely right again” after apologising to viewers for the language.