German tennis star Alexander Zverev has been called out for an act of “cheating” ahead of his French Open battle with Australian hero Alex de Minaur.
Vison has emerged of the coin toss before the quarter-final, where Zverev, the world No.4, is asked to take the call.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Alexander Zverev changes call at French Open coin toss.
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The coin has a “ball” side and a “racquet” side, and Zverev can be clearly heard saying “ball” before the toss.
The coin is then tossed and chair umpire Damien Dumusois asks Zverev to retrieve the coin.
“You tell me, Alex,” Dumusois says.
Zverev hands the coin back and shows it landed on the racquet side, and at that point Dumusois turns to de Minaur and says “racquet”, clearly believing it was de Minaur’s call.
But Zverev then jumped in and said: “No, I said racquet.”
Clearly, not expecting that admission, Dumusois and de Minaur both looked surprisngly at Zverev.
Maybe he suddenly felt guilt, because then Zverev said to de Minaur: “But if you want to go, you go. I’ll receive”.
Zverev’s actions have stunned tennis experts.
Popular tennis account Tennis Blockade published the video on social media and slammed the German.
“Zverev lying, scamming and gaslighting… during a coin toss, this time,” they wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Respected tennis writer Ben Rothenberg was also shocked.
“I have never seen such casual, committed scammery in tennis like this before,” he wrote.
Tennis commentator Ben Lewis said: “How is Alexander Zverev getting away with dirty club level cheating in the quarterfinals of Roland Garros?”
Others were left unsure if it was a deliberate act of cheating
“Maybe an honest mistake? Maybe he just cheated?” tennis account Swish said.
“Seems like a minor thing to risk trying to cheat for, especially when cameras are on you.”
De Minaur lost the match in straight sets but held no grudges in the aftermath and made no excuses.
“Lots to learn from. These are the matches I want to be playing,” said de Minaur, who will be back up to his joint-career high of No.9 in the world rankings next week.
“100 per cent I can take away a lot from the two weeks (in Paris). I’m extremely proud of my efforts.
“It shows the development and jump I’ve made as a player to be able to come out here and make quarters on my least-favourite surface, showing I’m ready to take it to whoever and I’m going to give it my best against whoever.
“Sure, I had some good highlights (but) highlights don’t win you matches. I would rather be boring and win the match.
“But I’m still happy with the way I showed up.”
– With AAP