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'He was wrong': Rafa Nadal condemns rival's 'appalling' act

andrew reid
·3-min read
Pictured left is Rafa Nadal and Alexander Zverev's ugly umpire outburst on the right.
Rafa Nadal has spoken out about the ugly incident that saw Alexander Zverev verbally abuse and smash an umpire's chair. Pic: Getty/Amazon Prime

Rafael Nadal has weighed in on the ugly controversy surrounding Alexander Zverev that saw the German disqualified from the Mexican Open, banned and slapped with a whopping fine.

Zverev made headlines around the world at the Mexican Open after an inexplicable outburst at a chair umpire that saw the 24-year-old repeatedly smash his racquet into the officials chair before verbally abusing him.

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On Monday, Zverev was given a suspended eight-week ban and $25,000 fine for the incident, prompting outrage from around the tennis world that the punishment was too lenient.

Spanish star Nadal said that as a friend and practice partner of Zverev, he had no desire to see the German Olympic champion receive a stiffer sentence for his violent outburst at last month's Mexico Open in Acapulco.

But the 21-time Grand Slam champion said that as a fan of the sport, he agreed with critics - many of whom labelled Zverev's actions 'appalling' - that tougher sanctions were necessary.

Speaking ahead of the Indian Wells Masters tournament in California on Thursday, Nadal said more stringent punishments should be levied in future.

"It's so difficult to talk in my position because from from one point of view, I have a good relationship with Sascha (Zverev) - I like him and I practice with him very often," Nadal said.

"I wish him all the very best and he knows that he was wrong, honestly, and he recognised that very early.

"So that's a positive thing in his side, in my opinion.

"On the other hand ... if we're not able to control and create a rule or a way to penalise this (sic) type of attitudes a little bit in a stronger way, then we as players, we feel stronger and stronger all the time.

"We need to be a positive example, especially for the kids watching us.

"So from one side, I don't want a penalisation for Sascha because I like him and I have very good relationship with him.

"On the other hand ... I'd like to see something harder for this kind of attitudes, not only him, I mean in general terms because this protects the sport and protects the referees."

These photos show Alexander Zverev attacking an umpire's chair at the Mexican Open.
Alexander Zverev was kicked out of the Mexico Open after attacking the umpire's chair. Image: Amazon Prime

Rafa Nadal out to extend unbeaten run

Nadal's comments come as the 21-time grand slam champion aims to keep his extraordinary unbeaten start to the year going.

The Spaniard's 15-0 start to 2022 saw him clinch the Mexican Open title last weekend, as well as snaffling his record 21st Grand Slam title at the Australian Open.

The 35-year-old says he is in fantastic spirits and looking forward to getting his campaign underway in the Californian desert, where he has won three times in the past.

"It was an unexpected moment for me to be in this position," Nadal said.

"I'm enjoying it every day and trying to stay with the right attitude to enjoy the fact that I'm playing well and enjoying matches and winning titles.

"I have been able to find a way to adapt my game to what I need to be competitive – some days being more aggressive, some days being more tactical, more defensive.

"Then I have been brave enough to play with the right determination in the moments that I needed."

with agencies

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