Alexander Zverev snaps at reporter after snapping his racquet

After an extraordinary meltdown that saw him smash his racquet nine times, Alexander Zverev was still steaming in the post-match presser.

The young German took out his full frustration on his racquet during an explosive exit from the Australian Open, his latest grand slam flop.

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The world No.4 was trounced 6-1 6-1 7-6 (7-5) by big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic, flying off the rails in the second set, smashing his racquet nine times after serving three double faults to go down 4-1.

When asked about it in his post-match press conference, Zverev said he was trying to release his frustration.

“It made me feel better. I was very angry, so I let my anger out,” the 21-year-old said.

However he wasn’t very impressed by the next question.

Zverev snapped back when a reporter asked if he abused his racquet often.

“Have you never watched my matches?” he shot back tersely.

“You should watch my matches.”

The prodigiously talented Zverev has 10 career titles and beat top guns Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Marin Cilic at the prestigious ATP finals to end 2018.

But he’s yet to bring that form to a major and has only made the quarter-finals once in 15 grand slams, the French Open last year.

He broke serve in the opening game but from there fell to pieces as he surrendered the first two sets in a little over an hour.

He stirred late, saving two match points down 5-4 in the third set but Raonic upped his game to close out the tiebreak.

“I’m not playing well, but obviously tried,” Zverev said.

“In the third set I started to play a little bit better but, you know, it was a little bit too late already.

“I have been struggling with my second serve the whole week.”

with AAP