For his complete dropout in Acapulco, Alexander Zverev is sentenced to a fine and eight-week ban. However, the penalty only applies if the German commits another misstep within a year. The horror in the tennis scene is great.
About a week and a half ago, Alexander Zverev indignant the tennis community and numerous fans in Acapulco with a real freak. After the sealed defeat in doubles, the German showed himself to be a bad loser and, after the handshake, hit the referee’s chair several times with his racket, so that the referee had to duck his feet to avoid being hit. Even before the match ball, Zverev verbally addresses the pitiful referee.
The result: The current world number 3 is excluded from the tournament, is no longer allowed to compete individually and has to pay a fine of 40,000 dollars – the fourth highest penalty ever imposed by the ATP. In addition, both the prize money and the world ranking points won are withdrawn from him and further investigations are announced. And yet voices are quickly raised that call for Zverev to be punished more severely – among others, the 23-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams chooses plain language.
Williams senses double standards
“There are double standards here,” complains Williams, who herself experienced some arguments with referees during her career, in an interview with CNN a few days ago. “I would probably be in jail if I did that – literally. No joke,” says the American, alluding to a prevailing double standard. “You can recognize this when you see other things that happen on the tour.”
The verdict that has now been published after the investigation has been completed should strengthen Williams’ suspicion. The ATP imposed an eight-week ban on Zverev and another $25,000 fine. The catch: The measures will only take effect if Zverev commits another violation due to unsportsmanlike behavior within the next calendar year. The reactions in the social networks suggest that not only Williams feels the punishment is too mild.
“Good luck to all aspiring tennis referees”
The Australian sports journalist Russell Bennett wrote after the verdict on Tuesday: “Nobody should be divided. Everyone should agree – it’s an absolute disgrace and the ATP Tour looks like a laughing stock.”
His compatriot and colleague Oliver Caffrey takes a similar view: “ATP’s totally embarrassing reaction to one of the worst incidents seen on the tennis court in years.” And the Australian sports journalist Ashleigh Nelson shows sympathy for the referees: “Well then good luck for all prospective tennis referees. It seems you have your own battles to fight.”
But not only Australian media professionals are appalled. The renowned tennis journalist Christopher Clarey also classifies the punishment as “too mild”. David Law, who comments on tennis games for the BBC, writes under a video of Zverev’s dropouts: “Seriously – if that doesn’t justify not being able to play a tournament for a while, you wonder what else.”
Sports journalist Erik Jonsson from Sweden even interprets the verdict as a dangerous signal: “The ATP has just told tennis referees that a player’s attack on them is okay as long as it only happens once.”
Setting a “wild” precedent
Ben Rothenberg, who regularly reports for the New York Times, draws a similar conclusion. “Honestly, the precedent this is setting is absolutely wild. If violently beating a referee with a tennis racquet as a weapon while staring at him and shouting obscenities isn’t a suspension, what would cross the line?” he asks, taking the suspended punishment with humor. He comments on a posted picture of an ice hockey goalie with the words: “The new clothes for ATP referees.”
