Melbourne: Alexander Zverev was warned for unsportsmanlike conduct during his quarterfinal match at the Australian Open against Tommy Paul, after he was distracted by a bird's feather and showed visible frustration towards the officials.
The second-seeded Zverev, trailing by a break in the second set, had just won a crucial game when a white feather fell into his line of sight as he was preparing for a backswing. Chair umpire Nacho Forcadell called a let and ordered a replay of the point, prompting Zverev to approach the official holding the feather.
"What? A feather? There’s millions of them on the court,” Zverev said in disbelief, visibly irritated by the interruption.
The incident occurred after Zverev had already voiced his frustration over a spectator yelling out during a point earlier in the game. He had complained to Forcadell, who subsequently requested that the spectators refrain from shouting during play. After losing the following point, Zverev's frustration continued to escalate, leading to a warning from the umpire for excessive displays of anger.
Despite the disruptions, Zverev managed to hold his composure and continued to fight for a spot in the semifinals, though the match was marked by tension between the player and the officials.