Alexander Zverev of Germany reacts while holding a feather during his quarterfinal match against Tommy Paul of the United States during their quarterfinal match at the 2025 Australian Open championship in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
MELBOURNE, Australia – Alexander Zverev was bothered by a bird feather at the 2025 Australian Open and was reprimanded for swearing during his quarterfinal match against Tommy Paul.
Second seed Zverev was down a break in the second set, a set he won, when Paul saved two break points. With the match on the line, chair umpire Nacho Forcadell called for a let and ordered a replay of a point when he saw a white feather land in Zverev’s eye line while the German player was on his backswing.
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“That? A pen? There are millions of them on the court,” Zverev said as he approached the referee while holding the pen.
Zverev was already heated earlier in that game, when a spectator shouted “out” during one point. Zverev complained to Forcadell, who asked the crowd not to shout during the points. After losing the next point, Zverev was warned not to show too much frustration.
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After the feather episode, Zverev grabbed the purple to take a break before returning to work, but Paul soon held serve.
Zverev lost that game but cruised to a 7-6 (1), 7-6 (0), 2-6, 6-1 victory.
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