Alexander Zverev: 'What I did was wrong and unacceptable. I want to apologize'

• Tennis News
• ATP Tennis

The defending Acapulco champion Alexander Zverev went through many things at the ATP 500 event on Tuesday. Alexander kicked off the singles action against Jenson Brooksby well after midnight, beating the American 3-6, 7-6, 6-2 in three hours and 20 minutes.

Alexander and Jenson finished the duel at 4:55 am and set the new record for the latest finish of an ATP match. Zverev returned to the court on Tuesday night, playing alongside his good friend Marcelo Melo against Lloyd Glasspool and Harri Heliovaara.

In the encounter's closing stages, the German lost his temper to earn a default and withdrew ahead of the singles second round. Zverev swore at the umpire and hit his chair with the racquet in anger multiple times, barely missing the umpire's foot and avoiding more serious problems.

Zverev and Melo claimed the opening set against Lloyd Glasspool and Harri Heliovaara before losing the second, as the encounter headed into a deciding match tie break. Zverev got furious after the umpire's call in the 15th point, saying all kinds of words to him and earning a code violation for an audible obscenity.

Alexander Zverev lost his temper after the doubles match in Acapulco.

Glasspool and Heliovaara sealed the deal soon after that, and Alexander could not accept the defeat that easily. He smashed the umpire's chair with his racquet in rage and nearly hit his foot.

The German swore the referee again, hit his chair again and left the court in a fury. As was expected, Alexander got defaulted and will not challenge Daniil Medvedev, Rafael Nadal and Stefanos Tsitsipas for the title. Realizing what he could have done and what message he sent, Alexander stated he is sorry about everything, regretting his behavior and apologizing to the umpire personally.

Zverev ensures this will not happen again in the future, and we will see if there are further sanctions against the German. "It's difficult to put into words how much I regret my behavior during and after the doubles match yesterday.

I have privately apologized to the chair umpire because my outburst towards him was wrong and unacceptable, and I'm only disappointed in myself. It just should not have happened, and there is no excuse. I would also like to apologize to my fans, the tournament, and the sport I love.

As you know, I leave everything on the court. Yesterday, I left too much. I'm going to take the coming days to reflect – on my actions and how I can ensure that it will not happen again. I'm sorry for letting you down," Alexander Zverev said.