Following an investigation into his conduct at the Mexican Open last month, world number three Alexander Zverev was given a suspended eight-week suspension from ATP-sanctioned events.
After repeatedly hitting the chair of umpire Alessandro Germani with his racket towards the end of a doubles match, the German was booted out of the tournament in Acapulco.
Zverev came close to hitting the official’s leg at one point, and while he apologized publicly and personally to Germani, the ATP’s senior vice-president of rules and competition, Miro Bratoev, undertook an investigation into the 24-year-behavior, old’s which was completed 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.