Zverev asks umpire to kick out heckler at Munich Open

MUNICH – Alexander Zverev was heckled by a spectator during his Munich Open quarter-final on April 18, and the top seed asked the chair umpire to eject the individual who alluded to domestic abuse allegations against the German.

Zverev, playing Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands, was heckled while serving at 5-5 in the second set when the supporter yelled: “Let’s go, you... wifebeater!”

He did not react at first, composing himself while several other spectators jeered the heckler. He won the game but during the changeover spoke to chair umpire Fergus Murphy.

“Fergus, please kick him out,” Zverev said.

Organisers confirmed that the spectator was removed from the stands.

“Unfortunately, there are always one or two idiots in the stadium. That is no problem,” Zverev later told reporters.

The world No. 3 was also heckled before making his runners-up speech at the Australian Open in January.

In June 2024, Zverev’s lawyers said that he had agreed a settlement after the mother of his child, Brenda Patea, accused him of physical abuse and a German court closed the case.

He has repeatedly denied the allegations.

Zverev eventually beat Griekspoor 6-7 (6-7),7-6 (7-3),6-4 in a match lasting over three hours, avenging his loss to the Dutchman at Indian Wells in March.

“I don’t even care if it was a roller-coaster ride, I won.” he said. “The crowd carried me to victory. I was already mentally exhausted, but they cheered me on in the decisive phase.”

He will face Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan in the semi-finals. REUTERS

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