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Alexander Zverev Viciously Heckled at BMW Open in Munich

A fan in attendance at the BMW Open heckled Alexander Zverev during a service game.
Pat Benson|
A fan heckled Alexander Zverev at the BMW Open by Bitpanda.
A fan heckled Alexander Zverev at the BMW Open by Bitpanda. | IMAGO / Lackovic

Alexander Zverev has not been himself on the court since he lost to Jannik Sinner in the Australian Open final. The 27-year-old has publicly questioned his confidence and mindset as he struggled throughout Spring.

Zverev had a chance to take the top spot in the ATP Rankings but let it slip away with several poor performances. This week, Zverev returned to his home country for the BMW Open in Munich.

So far, Zverev has excelled in the ATP 500 clay court event. Earlier today, Zverev beat Tallon Griekspoor in a hard-fought three-set match: 6-7(6), 7-6(3), 6-4.

While there is no doubt that Zverev is happy to compete in the semifinal against unseeded Fábián Marozsán tomorrow, his win was overshadowed by a heckler that has gone viral on social media.

With the second set tied 5-5, Zverev prepared to serve while up 15/0. That is when a heckler shouted out "Come on, you **** wife beater" (per Google Translate).

Fans gasped, and a shocked Zverev gestured toward the chair umpire to maintain silence while he prepared to serve. The fan was referencing the domestic violations allegations that have dogged Zverev for years.

Zverev faced a similar situation when a female fan yelled at him at the Australian Open. However, he was able to overcome the insult today and ended up winning the match in front of his home crowd.

Zverev is currently the ATP World No. 3 with a singles record of 17-7 and zero titles this season.

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Pat Benson
PAT BENSON

Pat Benson covers professional tennis for Serve on Sports Illustrated, reporting on ATP and WTA events worldwide. From Challenger tournaments to Grand Slams, he brings readers in-depth coverage, daily recaps, and exclusive interviews with some of the biggest names in the sport. With a decade of experience in sports journalism, Pat is recognized as a trusted voice in tennis media. You can contact him at 1989patbenson@gmail.com.

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