Tennis World #3 Alexander Zverev kicked out of the Mexican Open

[malaise]

Good. He was accused of abusing his former girlfriends a while back. Eff him!

[LoisB]

1. He needs to grow up. I hope the ATP hits him with a hefty fine and a suspension.

nt

[spooky3]

2. He has serious anger and violence issues. Serious actions must be taken.

Thanks for posting.

[canetoad]

3. He needs

To be permanently banned from the circuit. You don't hit an umpire and get a slap on the wrist.

[malaise]

5. THIS

Ban him

[spanone]

4. Asshole.

[Raftergirl]

6. The ATP has been slowing walking

their “investigation” into the domestic violence charges by ex girlfriend. It’s got to be almost a year since they announced it. Imo, they want everyone to just forget about it.

One of the articles I read this morning on this Mexican Open incident didn’t even mention the domestic violence charges or that ATP is “investigating”.

[LisaL]

7. Well it's going to be hard to pretend

the incident in the OP didn't happen since it's on camera. He denied abusing his ex. He can't deny what happened in the OP.

[Raftergirl]

18. He will get a slap on the wrist from the ATP

and there will still be no mention of the investigation they are supposedly doing into the domestic violence accusations from the ex girlfriend.

[spooky3]

21. The ATP didn't do anything until there was some pressure

In October; the alleged abuse was made public months before that. There is no excuse for the foot dragging; other pro sports have confronted this issue and ATP should be able to learn from their successes and failures.

Zverev shows no sign of being able or willing to address the issues he has. The ATP must finish their investigation and take appropriate action before anyone else is hurt.

[Raftergirl]

23. Has it only been since October?

Seems longer.

The allegations from the ex gf came out about 2 years ago, then there was another investigative report that came out early last summer, iirc.

The ATP was completely silent until after the second article until some of the commentators - especially Mary Carrillo wouldn’t stop talking about it.

Sadly, the ATP won’t do shit about the domestic abuse and this incident will only elicit a slap on the wrist.

[spooky3]

25. Check this out:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/04/sports/tennis/alexander-zverev-domestic-abuse-atp.html

[Raftergirl]

28. And?

So I was wrong on the time frame.

What do you think the ATP is going to do?

[spooky3]

29. From what we know now, very little. I hope I'm wrong. Nt

[malaise]

9. Spooky3 has been pointing that out

They will act now because that racquet came awfully close to the umpire's foot. That was disgraceful behavior.

[Raftergirl]

26. You think they are going to do more than fine him?

At most they will do, besides a fine, will be ordering him to get anger management counseling - like they ordered Kyrgios to get mental health therapy and threatened suspension if there was another incident. Correct me if I’m wrong, but he has lost it numerous times on court since and has never been suspended from the tour. Granted he barely plays anymore, but still.

[malaise]

27. Yes this will be more than a fine

He went for the umpire - this wasn't a ball hit in anger

Kyrgios played in the OZ Open

[Raftergirl]

30. Like what?

I know what he did. I saw it.

It’s not that I think nothing should be done, it’s that I don’t think the ATP will do anything much of anything.

[Raftergirl]

32. I know he played Oz

I’m talking about in general he has barely played the last two years.

You keep saying more than a fine. What would that be? Do you think he will be suspended?

[malaise]

34. Yes he will be suspended

He has to be suspended. Truthfully he should be banned

[Raftergirl]

39. He should definitely be suspended -

But he won’t be.

Even Nalbandian wasn’t suspended after he injured a line person at Queens after kicking the wooden box in front of the line person, injuring him. There was even blood. He was DQ and fined but not suspended from the tour.

[malaise]

40. Sadly sporting bodies have been very laxed

but I think he will be suspended. This one was a deliberate attack on the umpires and it came very close.

[Raftergirl]

41. I don't think he will be suspended

and he will be in IW in two weeks.

[tishaLA]

49. Mary Carillo was saying in a podcast that colleagues

won't even talk about it for fear of loss of access, retribution from the ATP, and reaction from networks for mentioning it. She said that she'd signed to do one tournament and told the network that she had no choice but to mention it and they said "sorry, no can do."

Anyhow, he should be suspended from the tour. This might do it and it might hasten their investigation into the domestic abuse.

[Raftergirl]

50. Yep.

She has been very outspoken from the beginning and has suffered the consequences of that.

ATP and the broadcasters want it swept under the rug. It is never, ever mentioned by comms during any of his matches.

ATP started their bs investigation to shut everyone up.

[EndlessWire]

10. He actually hit him in the foot.

He could have been arrested, no? He should be expelled, never to return. Kiss career goodbye.

[LisaL]

11. It appears to be close to the foot but not on the foot itself.

Umpire got up and was able to walk normally, so I don't think he got hit on the foot.

[EndlessWire]

12. I disagree.

The video shows him hitting the ref on the shoe; if he hit the shoe, he hit the foot. And, just because the ref could walk after doesn't mean that he didn't get hit on the foot. This was a flagrant violation, and he should be banned. Even if the ref were a thousand times wrong, you just can't do that.

[malaise]

13. I think he barely missed the ump's foot but only because

the umpire raised his foot just in time. Regardless, Zverev needs severe punishment.

[EndlessWire]

15. I disagree.

The top of the racquet hit the bottom of the shoe. Plus, he inflicted injury to the ref by way of the threat of being beaten with a racquet. His "scare the ref" skills are no better than his "win the match" skills. Total loser.

[malaise]

16. Every report agrees with me

Check BBC on this thread

[EndlessWire]

20. Is this really that important?

I went with the video. While BBC may be a credible news site, many news sites simply pick up the story and republish it. It doesn't matter that 20 sites say something. You just have to filter.

At the very start of the clip, you can see that he takes his racquet and attempts to swipe at the ref's right foot. Ref sees this and begins to lift his foot out of the way. But, the racquet keeps going and follows the arc up and hits the bottom of the foot, as the ref is lifting it.

Look, I don't care about this now. If the Ref himself wants to come on TV and state that he was not hit, that's fine. We'll settle then. But, no less than two replays appear on the clip, and both times it shows the same thing. This is worse than a nose-to-wire ending for a Derby race. This isn't the Super Bowl replay judge's territory.

What we can all agree on is that the guy is immature and should be sanctioned.

[LisaL]

22. If it's not important, why do you keep arguing about it.

Video doesn't show him hitting the bottom of the shoe.

[EndlessWire]

24. Excuse me?

Because Malaise is a respected member of this Forum. Because it's his/her thread, and I wanted to discuss the matter with him. But, we have beaten a dead horse here. If he hadn't said, as you did also, that all sites reported it, in text, instead of viewing the video and discussing it from a purely physical viewpoint, then I would have stopped. But, the aspect of sport sites' reporting accuracy came up, brought up by Malaise, the OP, and I answered back because I am interested in reporting accuracy. After four years of tRump, I am sensitive to this. I doubt very much that I hurt Malaise's feelings in any way.

I have no intention of being reeled in by you, so, have a nice day, or night, or whatever.

[malaise]

36. Come on - we are all respected members of DU and LisaL is a regular

on tennis threads. I am a not so young female

[LisaL]

19. I haven't seen one report claiming the umpire's foot (or shoe) got hit.

NT

[USALiberal]

31. Nope, look at it again. Nt

[nitpicker]

14. Link to BBC

https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/60490225

[malaise]

17. The analysis is pathetic

Many athletes and non-athletes don’t behave like this when sleep-deprived

[Raftergirl]

33. He did not hit the umpire's foot

Because the umpire moved his foot.

He didn’t even break the chair like Pliskova did after her racquet bashing of umpire’s chair in Rome a few years ago.

[BlueIdaho]

35. He needs to learn about gratitude

Let him fill potholes or dig fence post holes for a year. Then maybe he’ll appreciate his pro athlete lifestyle.

[malaise]

38. THIS

There are way too many entitle brats in sports

[spooky3]

42. Patrick McEnroe favors suspension.

Link to tweet

?s=21

[malaise]

43. He's right

[North Shore Chicago]

46. He should know.

Brother to one of tennis' biggest whiny babies ever on the tour.

[malaise]

47. LOL

You cannot be serious

[North Shore Chicago]

51. Hah!

Have you seen Novaxx imitate Johns' serving motion? Hate to admit it, but quite good.

[malaise]

52. Yep

and yep

[Demovictory9]

44. that was very violent

[malaise]

53. Here's Rafa's take

https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/60504264

Speaking after his second-round victory over Stefan Kozlov, which ensured his best start to a season, Nadal said: "I enjoy good relations with Alexander, but at the end of the day the punishment is deserved.

"One cannot behave in this manner and I believe he is conscious of that.

"Unfortunately, the image that Alexander gave yesterday, exacerbated by being posted on social media accounts which lights the torch paper, will have been seen by millions of children.

"They base their attitude on ours and we must set an example and show a minimum of respect.

"I understand the frustration, I understand that in a moment of anger one can break a racquet.

[Demovictory9]

45. he also calls the umpire a "f***ing idiot" full video here with audio

[Raftergirl]

54. So far he has been fined on site maximum of $40k

and loss of all ranking points. He was defending champ so he loses 500 points. Plus, he forfeits any prize money from this week.

The ATP will investigate further. 🙄

‘Mexican Open: Alexander Zverev handed maximum fine for attacking umpire's chair’

https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/60518045

[Raftergirl]

55. ATP did another suspended suspension.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/08/tennis/alexander-zverev-suspended-ban-mexican-open-spt-intl/index.html

[malaise]

56. They are shameless

Seriously

[Raftergirl]

57. You didn't think they were really going to

suspend him?

The ATP is spineless. Never expect them to do the right thing and you won’t be disappointed.