Zverev Upset as Feather Disrupts Play at Australian Open

Vegas Tennis Team
1 Min Read

MELBOURNE, Australia — Alexander Zverev found himself momentarily distracted by an errant bird’s feather at the Australian Open, leading to a warning for foul language during his intense quarterfinal clash against Tommy Paul.

As the second-seeded Zverev faced a break deficit in the second set—a set he ultimately triumphed in—Paul expertly saved two critical break points. The tension peaked when chair umpire Nacho Forcadell spotted a white feather flutter into Zverev’s line of sight just as he prepared to strike, prompting a let call and a point replay.

“What? A feather? There’s countless of them on the court,” Zverev exclaimed while brandishing the feather in front of the official.

Zverev paused to collect himself while gripping the net, before refocusing on the game. However, Paul went on to secure his next service game without any further interruptions.

Earlier in that same game, Zverev had already expressed his frustration when a spectator shouted “out” during a pivotal point. He voiced his displeasure to Forcadell, who then appealed to the audience for silence. After dropping the subsequent point, Zverev received a caution for his visible agitation.

Share This Article
Leave a comment