Nadal says Zverev deserved to be kicked out of tournament after umpire attack

02/25/2022

Australian Open champion Rafael Nadal believes Alexander Zverev deserved to be kicked out of the Mexican Open following his shocking umpire attack this week.

Zverev’s inexcusable behaviour came after a doubles match alongside Marcelo Melo, as the pair lost to Lloyd Glasspool and Harri Heliovaara 2-1.

Following the match the German was clearly unhappy with the result and the official, as he came off the court before repeatedly smashing his racket into the umpire’s chair whilst umpire Alessandro Germani remained seated.

After his outburst Zverev was kicked out of the competition and has since been fined £30,000 by the ATP, as well as having £22,500 in event earnings taken away from him.

In a statement the ATP confirmed: “Following ATP’s withdrawal of Alexander Zverev from this week’s tournament in Acapulco due to unsportsmanlike conduct the player has received the following on-site penalties; verbal abuse – 20,000 US dollars, unsportsmanlike conduct – 20,000 US dollars.

“This represents the maximum fine per each violation. Zverev also forfeits full prize money of 31,570 US dollars (singles and doubles), as well as all ATP rankings points from the event.”

One man who thinks the punishment to remove him from the tournament was correct is 21-time Grand Slam champ Nadal.

The Spaniard said: “He deserved the sanction because you can't act in this way.

"I think he is aware of that and I hope that this serves as a learning process for him and other young players who lose their temper on the court sometimes."

Do you think Medvedev's punishment was harsh enough? Let us know in the comments section below.

Nadal himself has enjoyed an impressive week in Mexico, having booked himself a place in the semi-finals where he will take on his Australian Open final opponent Daniil Medvedev.

Medvedev – who will become the No. 1 player in the world on Monday – is no stranger to on court outbursts and ATP punishments, after he was disciplined in his semi final clash against Stefanos Tsitsipas last month.

As a result the Russian star has sympathised with Zverev, admitting that he believes the German understands he has ‘made a mistake’.

Medvedev said: “That's what happened to me a few times.

"He made a mistake. He paid for it. From what he said he understands that he made the mistake and that's the most important.

“People, no matter which job, which sport, everybody makes mistakes.

"[It] was definitely not nice what he did, but he understands it. From my point of view, I understand when you make mistakes, but you regret it and next time you try not to make it."

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