During the third round of the Madrid Open, Alexander Zverev faced controversy when he disagreed with an electronic line call during his match against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. In the second set’s 10th game, Zverev contested a ruling that a backhand from Davidovich Fokina was in, leading him to ask chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani to check the mark, which was against the rules. In a moment of frustration, Zverev took a photo of the mark on his phone, resulting in a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct. After winning the match 2-6, 7-6(3), 7-6(0), Zverev shared the photo on Instagram, highlighting the discrepancy, which was supported by fellow player Donna Vekic.
This incident comes amid changes in officiating practices, with the ATP removing line judges from many tournaments, prompting debates about the reliability of electronic systems. Zverev’s next opponent will be Francisco Cerundolo in the round of 16. Adding to the match’s excitement, retired football star Toni Kroos was present to support Zverev, celebrating the victory and exchanging gifts with the tennis player afterward.
