Alexander Zverev handed suspended ban for smashing umpire’s chair

World No 3 Alexander Zverev has been handed a suspended eight-week ban from ATP-sanctioned events following an investigation into his conduct at the Mexican Open last month.

The German was thrown out of the tournament in Acapulco after he repeatedly hit the chair of umpire Alessandro Germani with his racket at the end of a doubles match.

Zverev almost hit the leg of the official at one point and while he apologised publicly for the incident and privately to Germani, ATP’s senior vice-president of rules and competition, Miro Bratoev, conducted a review into the behaviour of the 24-year-old which was concluded this week.

An ATP statement on Tuesday read: “The review determined that Zverev committed Aggravated Behaviour under the Player Major Offense section of ATP Rules. As a result, Zverev has been issued an additional fine of 25,000 US dollars and a suspension for a period of eight weeks from any ATP-sanctioned event.

“However, the fine and suspension are withheld on the condition that, over a probation period ending 22 February 2023 [one year from the incident], the player does not incur a further Code Violation.”

It means Zverev will now be walking on a tightrope with a further code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct or verbal or physical abuse towards “an official, opponent, spectator or any other person” on-court resulting in an eight-week suspension being implemented, subject to any appeal process.

The 2020 US Open runner-up had already been fined 40,000 US dollars (£30,000) and forfeited his prize money of more than 30,000 US dollars (£22,500) for his actions.

Zverev has until Friday to lodge an appeal but did apologise for the incident that took place on 23 February after a doubles’ match alongside Marcelo Melo