Alex Zverev is admonished for unsportsmanlike conduct during his 2022 Madrid Open match against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. The incident started when Zverev took a picture of a controversial ball mark with his phone. Her action has sparked an important dialogue on sportsmanship and the impact of technology in tennis.
That controversial moment came on the 10th point of the second set’s action. Zverev, the top seed in Madrid, had a public confrontation with the electronic line calling system. Fokina played a backhand that was ruled in. Zverev, frustrated with the decision, expressed his complaints to the umpire, Mohamed Lahyani, believing it was the wrong call. Following his unsuccessful protest, Zverev resorted to capturing an image of the ball mark with his phone, which he later shared on his Instagram Story with the caption: “Just going to leave this one here.”
In the inset of the same picture, the ball mark is clearly 3 or 4 centimeters outside the line. This significant discrepancy has raised serious concerns about the accuracy of the electronic line calling system. This system replaced line judges at ATP events this year. The WTA has followed suit with similar measures across most of its tournaments. While all other grand slams have embraced full automation, the French Open is sticking with line judges—for the time being.
Regardless of the fallout from the incident, Zverev earned a hard-fought win against Fokina. He made the upset victorious, winning it at 2-6, 7-6, 7-6. His goals are still intact as he tries to win the Madrid Open for a third time. Zverev will next face Francisco Cerúndolo in the round of 16 on Tuesday. As he tries to make his way to another title, the discussions surrounding sportsmanship and technology in tennis rage on.
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