"Just one point away from world No. 1" Zverev's smash breaks the ad board → Referee bangs it, opponent kicks it with a 'thud'... He ultimately covers it with a towel and makes history

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

At the moment when he was just one point away from reaching world No. 1 in the rankings, an unexpected incident occurred. The stadium's advertising board malfunctioned after Alexander Zverev (29, Germany) hit a smash. Both the referee and his opponent tried to fix it, but to no avail. In the end, the problem was solved with a single towel.

On the 30th (Korean time), Zverev defeated Tallon Griekspoor (Netherlands) 2-0 in sets (6-4, 7-5) in the second round (Round of 16) of the men's singles at the Erste Bank Open (ATP 500), an ATP Tour event held in Vienna, Austria, to advance to the quarterfinals.

With this victory, Zverev secured his first-ever ascent to world No. 1 in the ATP rankings, which will be announced on November 2. He becomes the second German male player in history to achieve this feat after Boris Becker, and the 30th player to reach world No. 1 since the introduction of the ATP rankings in 1973.

However, an unforeseen event occurred just as he was on the verge of a historic victory. The German media outlet Sport1 reported, "A bizarre incident happened right before Zverev's ascent to world No. 1," and conveyed the mishap that took place at the stadium at the time.

The situation unfolded in the second set when the game score was 6-5 and Zverev was facing a 30-30 tie in his own service game. Zverev won the point with a powerful smash, securing match point. He needed just one more point to clinch the victory and confirm his rise to world No. 1.

However, this smash caused an unexpected problem. The ball struck the electronic advertising board behind Griekspoor, causing part of the screen to malfunction.

The issue was that the broken advertising board was located in the direction where Zverev needed to serve. Consequently, the match was temporarily suspended.

To resolve this, chair umpire Manuel Mesina took direct action. Mesina came down from the umpire's chair and knocked on the malfunctioning advertising board with his hand several times. However, the board did not return to normal operation.

Opponent Griekspoor also did not stand by idly. He kicked the advertising board with his foot while attempting to get it working. Although he burst into laughter at the absurd situation, the board remained out of order.

Zverev, who was facing an unexpected wait just before reaching world No. 1, could also not hide his smile.

The broadcast team also expressed their frustration. Stefan Hemmel, a commentator for German Sky Sports, said, "My God. It is truly an unbelievable situation," expressing his bewilderment.

Ultimately, the referee chose a clever method. He covered the broken part of the advertising board with a red tournament towel. Instead of complex repairs, the problem was solved with a single towel.

The match then resumed. There were no further variables. Zverev won the final point with a powerful service ace to secure the victory. It was a historic moment that confirmed his ascent to world No. 1 in the rankings.

This achievement is even more special for Zverev. He had risen to world No. 2 in 2022, but suffered a serious injury involving a torn ankle ligament while facing Rafael Nadal in the French Open semifinals at the time. As a result, he was unable to continue his challenge for the top spot in the world for a long period.

However, after winning his first Grand Slam title at this year's French Open, he went on to conquer the US Open as well, enjoying a peak season. He has finally secured the world No. 1 position he had dreamed of for so long.

After the match, Zverev said, "The feeling of being at the top of the world is amazing. It is a special emotion different from winning a tournament," expressing his emotion.

At the stadium that day, a special moment was also arranged where Thomas Muster, an Austrian former world No. 1, congratulated Zverev.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original