Zverev: “The ATP has held investigations for much less” – Match Points excerpt

The ATP need to consider conducting an investigation into the allegations against Alexander Zverev, say the members of the Match Points panel.

In the latest episode of Match Points, host Josh Cohen asked his trio of experts for their views on the situation, and all three – former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli, current ATP player Noah Rubin, and journalist Ben Rothenberg – agreed the entire situation had been handled badly by the tennis authorities.

The Zverev case: “I don’t think it helps the sport”

“I don’t think it helps the sport,” said Rothenberg. “I’ve heard from a lot of fans who have gotten disenchanted with watching tennis in general with this hanging over it for the last couple of weeks of the season.”

He pointed out that the ATP has carried out investigations into much more minor infractions for which there is straightforward video evidence – giving the example of Nick Kyrgios’s behaviour on a match court in Cincinnati, which was all captured by the television cameras.

“I just think it’s worth going through the process”

And he added that the allegations against Zverev – who he described as “one of the big stars of the future” – were far more deserving of an investigation.

“I just think it’s worth going through the process, and making clear that you take these things seriously,” he said. “I don’t think tennis has done a good job of even doing that.”