Alexander Zverev: Marion Bartoli slams ATP for not punishing German enough

Former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli has questioned why Alexander Zverev was not sanctioned more severely, following his behaviour at the Mexican Open. 

Zverev was disqualified from the tournament in Acapulco, after smashing an umpire’s chair with his racquet. 

The German was fined $40,000 (£30,000) and forced to give up the $31,750 (£24,000) he’d earned in prize money. He also the ranking points he gained at the tournament.

 Yet, despite many anticipating that the world number three would face a ban from competing, he was only hit with a suspended eight-week ban and a $25,000 (19,000) fine, following an ATP investigation. 

A number of tennis stars have spoken out publically on Zverev’s punishment, with many choosing to condemn the ATP for not being harsher. 

Serena Williams said she’d “probably be in jail” if she behaved in the same way as the German. 

Now Bartoli, who won Wimbledon in 2013, has stressed that Zverev deserved at least some form of tournament ban. 

“To see Alexander Zverev just going out and smashing his racquet so close to the umpire and almost just wanting to attack him [but] staying in that fine line where he didn’t touch him and can defend himself. To me that was outrageous,” she told Tennis Majors. 

“That to me deserved at least a three-tournament suspension [and to] not play Indian Wells, Miami and Monte Carlo. It deserved that at least, otherwise where do you draw the line? 

“The fine was a big amount for normal people, but for tennis players such as Alexander Zverev who earns so much on and off the court that was not that much – I don’t think he will learn the lessons he should have learned.”

The Zverev incident is not the only controversy that has surrounded male players of late. 

At the