“Name another sport that would not protect its officials” Pam Shriver lashes out on ATP for not suspending Alexander Zverev


“Name another sport that would not protect its officials” Pam Shriver lashes out on ATP for not suspending Alexander Zverev

Alexander Zverev and Pam Shriver

World No. 3 Alexander Zverev continues to remain in the headlines for his act of violence at the 2022 Acapulco Open in Mexico. Having finished with his singles match at almost 5 AM, Zverev was back in a few hours’ time to play in his doubles match with partner Marcelo Melo. The pair was up against lucky losers Lloyd Grasspool and Harri Helliovaara and lost in 3-sets to them.

Unhappy with a call from the chair umpire Alessandro Germani, Zverev had started hurling abuses him during the final few points of the match and after the handshake at the net after losing the match, Zverev blasted his racquet on the chair umpire’s stand striking it near the umpire’s legs while continuing to argue with him.

The actions saw Zverev removed from the tournament in singles as well and despite issuing an apology statement, he was fined $40,000 and his points were taken away for his actions and after an investigation into the matter, Zverev is now put on probation for a year that will see him suspended for 8 weeks and an additional fine of $25,000 if he commits another code violation in the next year.

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With the tennis fraternity hoping for stricter punishment for the German, 21-time doubles Grand Slam champion Pam Shriver voiced her opinion through her official Twitter handle criticising the ATP for a weak stance and not showing support towards their officials as Zverev continues to remain active on the Tour despite his rowdy behaviour on the court.

“Name another sport that would not protect it’s officials who have been physically attacked and intimidated by a competitor, by serving a probation vs a suspension? What am I missing?” tweeted Shriver questioning the decision taken by Miro Bratoev, ATP’s senior vice-president of rules and competition.

Alexander Zverev’s fine less than US Open first round payout

Alexander Zverev
Alexander Zverev

Other than not suspending Zverev for his violent and unsportsmanlike actions, the fine issued to him is also shockingly low for the action he did. Given the $40,000 fine issued immediately in Mexico and a possible fine of $25,000 if he violates the code once again in the next year, it will sum up to $65,000. When compared, a player defeated in the first round of the 2021 US Open walked away with $75,000.

This is just another situation when the German has been treated leniently by the ATP having already delayed the investigation into the Domestic Violence and Abuse case filed against him by his ex-girlfriend Olga Sharypova that first came to light in 2021 but the ATP still maintains its stance that they are still ‘investigating’ the matter.

Also Read: ‘I would probably be in jail,’ Serena Williams calls out double standards in tennis over Alexander Zverev’s brain-fade moment in Acapulco

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