Andy Murray slams Alexander Zverev for smashing umpire’s chair with his racquet

Andy Murray has slammed Alexander Zverev’s conducted after he was booted out of the Mexican Open for smashing the umpire’s chair with his racquet.

The shocking incident occurred moments after the German and Brazilian partner Marcelo Melo were beaten 6-2 4-6 10-6 by Britain’s Lloyd Glasspool and Finland’s Harri Heliovaara.

The four players shook hands at the net before Zverev turned to the umpire and aggressively hit the chair with his racket three times, almost catching the official’s leg with one swing.

<p lang=«en» dir=«ltr» xml:lang=«en»>Alexander Zverev has been kicked out of the #MexicanOpen after this…ð³#ATPAcapulco #ATPpic.twitter.com/OaHlbbFPTj

As the umpire stood to climb down from his chair, 24-year-old Zverev walked back over and took another swing.

Tournament organisers swiftly confirmed that Zverev would play no further part in the Mexican Open, posting on Twitter: ‘Due to unsportsmanlike conduct at the conclusion of his doubles match on Tuesday night, Alexander Zverev has been withdrawn from the tournament in Acapulco.’

Asked to comment on Zverev’s outburst after his own defeat against Jannik Sinner in Dubai, Murray said: ‘I obviously understand lots of players, athletes across lots of sports, can get very frustrated. Certainly me, myself, I’ve not always acted in the way I would want on the tennis court. I’m certainly not claiming to be an angel. I’m not perfect myself.

‘However, when you’re ripping your tennis racket right next to the umpire multiple times, yeah, you can’t be doing that.

‘I know obviously one of the British guys who was playing, as well, a bit dangerous. It’s graphite flying off the racquet, as well. Yeah, it was not good.’

The ATP has yet to announce any sanctions, but its website shows that