‘No excuse’: Zverev regrets attack on umpire’s chair that led to expulsion

World No 3 launched tirade after doubles loss Zverev and accepts his outburst was ‘wrong and unacceptable’

Alexander Zverev of Germany returns a ball during a match against to Jenson Brooksby of the U.S. at the Mexican Open tennis tournament in Acapulco, Mexico, Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

Alexander Zverev has been ejected from the Mexican Open in Acapulco for unsportsmanlike conduct after attacking an umpire’s chair and intimidating him following his loss in the first round of doubles.

Zverev took issue with a line call in the penultimate point of his 6-2, 4-6, 10-6 loss to Lloyd Glasspool and Harri Heliovaara on Tuesday night and he initially received a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct after screaming insults at the umpire. “It’s 8-6 in the tiebreak, for fuck’s sake, look where the ball bounced,” he said. “You fucking idiot.”