Mats Wilander on Alexander Zverev: "Have to punish him accordingly"
Mats Wilander told Eurosport that he was not very satisfied with the way the ATP handled Alexander Zverev 's freak out in Acapulco. For the Swede, much tougher penalties are needed for Germany's number one.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit:
Mar 04, 2022, 01:44 pm

So Alexander Zverev returns to the tennis court. The German serves - quite surprisingly - for Germany in the Davis Cup against Brazil before heading to Indian Wells for the prestigious Sunshine Double in the USA. Not everyone likes the fact that the third in the world rankings, despite the incidents in Acapulco, can already plan with such a busy schedule again.
In any case, for Mats Wilander the return of the German after the events in Mexico is "too soon", as he explained to Eurosport: "When a player smashes his racket on the referee's chair and is literally a few centimeters from hitting the referee's leg , he shouldn't be allowed to go on a tennis court until he's gone through some sort of rehab for a while," said the Swede.
Wilander calls for tougher penalties
Wilander was not satisfied with the penalties imposed - Zverev was deprived of the prize money and the points earned in the singles after the German was disqualified in the singles tournament due to a freak out in doubles: "We have to punish him accordingly, and it's too early to allow him to play professional tennis again the week after or two weeks after that."
Fines would simply have no effect on a Zverev brand player, Wilander is convinced: "In my opinion, money is not enough, and I think that someone who behaves like this is given either a three-month or a six-month ban," emphasized the former world number one. "He's not allowed to play the most important tournaments on his calendar."
Davis Cup start a smart move
Especially since inappropriate behavior on the court at Zverev is quite systematic, as Wilander explains: "I remember the game against Denis Shapovalov at the Australian Open. After 45 minutes he destroyed a tennis racket on the court," said the Swede. Against the Canadian, Zverev was completely surprisingly eliminated in three sets with little or no chance.
The fact that Zverev is now allowed to play again is "not a good sign for professional tennis" for Wilander. At the same time, it was not a bad move for Zverev personally to play his first match after the incidents in Acapulco for his national colors in the Davis Cup. The fact that these appearances in Brazil should primarily serve to restore one's own image also hovers like a sword of Damocles over Zverev's start in the national competition.