In a dramatic and highly unusual scene at the Madrid Open, Alexander Zverev found himself at the center of controversy during his match against Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. The German star pulled out his phone mid-match, leading to a heated argument with veteran chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani and a subsequent code violation.
The flashpoint occurred when Zverev disputed a line call, believing there had been a malfunction in the Hawk-Eye system. Frustrated and convinced he had been wronged, Zverev exclaimed to Lahyani, “There’s a mistake in the system. There is a malfunction in the system!” Lahyani, however, calmly informed him that the ball had caught the line by just 1mm, according to the electronic review.
ELC on clay means people taking pics of marks this week.
It’s a code violation.
But Zverev is 1000% sure pic.twitter.com/zBuDlwQTQ8— Stephanie Myles (@OpenCourt) April 27, 2025
Not satisfied with the explanation, Zverev took matters into his own hands. Despite Lahyani’s repeated and urgent calls of “Please don’t do it,” Zverev walked over to his bench, pulled out his phone, and proceeded to snap a photo of the ball mark on the clay as proof to back up his argument, as seen in the video below.
The scene sparked immediate reactions from the Spanish crowd, who hooted and booed Zverev for his actions, showing clear support for their compatriot Davidovich Fokina. Meanwhile, Lahyani, visibly frustrated, had no choice but to award Zverev a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Zverev brings out his phone to take a picture of a ball mark 🤳👀#MMOpenpic.twitter.com/ZQyzhY7bpS
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) April 27, 2025
The bizarre moment added another layer of tension to what was already a fiery atmosphere in Madrid. Zverev’s decision to take a picture mid-match is a rare and controversial move, as players are strictly forbidden from using mobile phones during official play under ATP rules.
While emotions often run high on the court, this incident is likely to fuel further discussions about player conduct and technology’s role in officiating matches. Zverev’s frustrations were evident, but his actions may draw scrutiny and potential fines from tournament officials.
It remains to be seen how the ATP will address the situation, but for now, the bigger debate of replacing line judges with electronic calling is raging on and the players look divided on its use.