Alexander Zverev regrets Acapulco dropouts: "Worst moment of my life"
In the run-up to the ATP Masters tournament in Indian Wells, Alexander Zverev (ATP No. 3) commented on a freak out in Acapulco and described it as the "worst moment of my life".
by Florian Goosmann
last edit:
Mar 10, 2022, 10:33 am
"I'm still embarrassed," said Zverev about his freak out at the ATP tournament in Acapulco two weeks ago. In his double match, Zverev first insulted the referee after a critical decision and then abused the referee's chair with his racket after the end of the match.
"When I'm currently walking through the changing room, it's not a nice feeling," Zverev continued. "But we all make mistakes. I'm a human being too and I can assure you that I will never behave like this ever again in my life. It was definitely the worst moment of my life."
Zverev was fined $25,000 last week and given an eight-week ban - albeit suspended . Means: If Zverev commits a similar action in the next twelve months, an eight-week compulsory break will come into force.
He is working on himself in terms of meditation, Zverev explained further, how he wanted to avoid another freak out. There are times of stress in everyone's life. "I wasn't the first and won't be the last to behave badly on the pitch." He knows who he is as a person, "and that doesn't reflect badly on me. I played until 5 a.m. the day before - the same day I wanted to play doubles again."
Zverev further explained: "I would never physically hurt anyone"
"They have every right to be banned by the ATP in the event of another freak out". If he behaved like that again, it would mean that he hadn't learned anything from it. "I think everyone deserves a second chance in life. But if you keep making mistakes, it means you haven't learned anything."
At the ATP Masters tournament in Indian Wells, Zverev intervened at the weekend, after a bye at the start he met the winner of the game between Tommy Paul and Mikhail Kukushkin.