
has taken to Instagram to share a photo he took in the middle of his third-round match at the Madrid Open. The No. 1 seed started debating an automatic line call during his clash with Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, disagreeing with the electronic system, which called one of his opponent's balls in. Zverev pleaded with the umpire to come onto the court and look at the mark but the official was not allowed to do so.
Instead, the German got his phone out of his bag and took a photo of the mark, delaying Davidovich Fokina's service motion. Zverev as a result. But that didn't stop him from posting the picture after getting the win.
Davidovich Fokina was serving to stay in the second set at 4-5 when Zverev started complaining about a ball mark. The Spaniard hit a forehand that appeared to just catch the line, with the electronic system ruling it in.
Automatic line calling is now used across the ATP Tour, including at clay-court events. In years past, umpires would come down from their chairs and manually look at a ball's mark on the court, deciding whether it was in or out.
Since the introduction of the automated system, they must go with the electronic call and cannot get out of their chairs. But Zverev wasn't happy and marched over to umpire Mohamed Lahyani, asking him to come down to the court.
"Look at this mark. Please just come down, look at it. Don't overrule it, please. Just come down, please. Just for me," the world No. 2 asked as Lahyani told him he was not allowed to do so.
Zverev continued to plead with the umpire and claimed there was a "mistake" in the system. When he finally realised he was getting nowhere, he got his phone out and took a photo before Lahyani gave him a code violation.
The German continued playing and forced a decider, winning the second set in a tiebreak after losing the opener. He still wasn't pleased, complaining about the system again during the changeover.
Zverev went on to win 2-6 7-6(3) 7-6(0), and the ball mark was still on his mind after the match. He took to his Instagram story to share the photo of the mark in question.
"Just gonna leave this one here. This was called in. Interesting call," the top seed wrote.
A two-time former champion in Madrid, Zverev is now through to the round of 16, where he faces either Francisco Cerundolo or Francisco Comesana. Cerundolo beat him here last year and the German will be out for revenge.
You may also like
Female passenger on Southwest Airlines flight strips down naked, poops on seat: Report
Two children killed, 800 shanties gutted as fire engulfs jhuggi cluster in Delhi's Rohini
Madhya Pradesh: From labourers to owners, PM Vishwakarma Yojana transforms life of poor in Damoh
Assam Rifles announces training of its first woman dog handler, Riflewoman Sreelakshmi
KCR urges Centre to stop operation Kagar against Maoists