Alexander Zverev of Germany reacts as he holds a feather during his quarterfinal match against Tommy Paul of the U.S. during their quarterfinal match at the Australian Open 2025 championship in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
MELBOURNE, Australia – Alexander Zverev got bothered by a bird’s feather at the Australian Open 2025 and was warned for cursing during his quarterfinal against Tommy Paul.
The second-seeded Zverev was down a break in the second set — a set he went on to win — when Paul saved two break points. With the game in the balance, chair umpire Nacho Forcadell called a let and ordered a replay of a point when he saw a white feather drop into Zverev’s eyeline as the German player was in his backswing.
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“What? A feather? There’s millions of them on the court,” Zverev said as he approached the official while holding up the feather.
Zverev was already heated earlier in that game, when a spectator yelled “out” during a point. Zverev complained about it to Forcadell, who asked the crowd not to shout during points. After losing the next point, Zverev was warned about showing too much frustration.
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After the feather episode, Zverev grasped the net to pause for a while before going back to work, but Paul soon held serve.
Zverev lost that game but went on to a 7-6 (1), 7-6 (0), 2-6, 6-1 victory.
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