Alexander Zverev entered the 2025 Mutua Madrid Open as the top seed and world number two. He had recently won the ATP 500 title in Munich. The tournament, held at Madrid’s Caja Mágica, takes place on outdoor clay courts at altitude, which affects ball speed and bounce. Zverev’s matches involved a disputed line call, a code violation, a comeback victory, and a loss in the round of 16.
- Alexander Zverev received a warning after taking a photo of a disputed ball mark, challenging the accuracy of the electronic line-calling system at the 2025 Madrid Open.
- Despite the controversy, Zverev fought back to defeat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in a thrilling tie-breaker match but later lost to Francisco Cerúndolo in the round of 16.
- The ATP’s use of electronic calls on clay courts continues to spark debate, with similar photo incidents involving Aryna Sabalenka and Victoria Azarenka earlier in the season.
Disputed Line Call and Code Violation in Win Against Davidovich Fokina
Zverev faced Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the third round. Davidovich Fokina won the first set 6-2. In the second set, during the 10th game, a backhand shot by Davidovich Fokina was called in by the ATP’s electronic line-calling system. Zverev believed the ball was out by four to five centimeters.
Zverev asked chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani to inspect the ball mark. Lahyani declined, following ATP rules that prohibit umpires from leaving the chair due to full reliance on electronic calls. Zverev then walked to his bench, took out his phone, and photographed the mark on the court. This action resulted in a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Zverev recovered and won the match 2-6, 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-0). This win placed him in the round of 16. The incident added to concerns over the accuracy of electronic calls on clay, where ball marks are visible. The ATP removed line judges from all tour events in 2025, including on clay, despite the surface’s unique characteristics.
Cerúndolo Defeats Zverev in the Fourth Round
In the round of 16, Zverev played Francisco Cerúndolo of Argentina. Cerúndolo had already defeated Harold Mayot 6-3, 6-4 and Francisco Comesaña 6-4, 6-4. Cerúndolo had also beaten Zverev in Madrid in 2024.
Cerúndolo won the 2025 match 7-5, 6-3. He maintained a consistent baseline game and played cleanly during key moments. Zverev served effectively and used his groundstrokes, but could not match Cerúndolo’s execution. The loss ended Zverev’s attempt to win a third Madrid Open title.
Zverev Comments on Performance and ATP Depth
After the match, Zverev said he played well but acknowledged that Cerúndolo played better. He stated he did not commit many unforced errors and felt confident about his game. He plans to compete in Rome and Roland Garros.
Zverev also commented on the current ATP field. He compared the depth of the tour now to 2017 when he first entered the top 10. He noted that while players like Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, and Murray dominated the top rankings then, the overall quality of players ranked 10 through 30 has since improved.
Other Tournament Results and Electronic Call Controversy
Several top players exited early. Defending champion Andrey Rublev lost to Alexander Bublik 6-4, 0-6, 6-4. Thus, Rublev will drop out of the top 15 in the ATP rankings.
In the women’s draw, Aryna Sabalenka lost the first set but defeated Elise Mertens 3-6, 6-2, 6-1. Sabalenka had also received a warning for taking a photo of a disputed line call earlier in April at the Stuttgart tournament. Victoria Azarenka posted a photo of a disputed call from another Madrid match on social media.
Jessica Pegula, the third seed, lost 6-3, 6-2 to Moyuka Uchijima. Jasmine Paolini, the sixth seed, lost 6-2, 6-1 to Maria Sakkari.
The French Open, beginning in late May, will continue to use line judges. It remains the only Grand Slam that does not rely fully on electronic calls. This policy contrasts with the ATP Tour’s 2025 rule change that eliminated on-court line judges.
Cerúndolo’s Progress and South American Presence
Francisco Cerúndolo is ranked inside the ATP top 20. He reached the Madrid quarterfinals after defeating Zverev. His younger brother, Juan Manuel Cerúndolo, also competed in Madrid and reached the third round before losing to Daniil Medvedev 6-2, 6-2.
Francisco Cerúndolo said he values the presence of his brother on tour and believes South American tennis is improving. He stated that both players focus on long-term development rather than short-term targets like Roland Garros. Cerúndolo’s wins in Madrid continued a strong start to his 2025 season.
