Alexander Zverev given maximum fine after violent outburst

World No. 3 and Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Alexander Zverev was recently booted from the Mexican Open after he bizarrely hit the chair of umpire Alessandro Germani with his racket at the end of a doubles match and nearly caught Germani's leg during the outburst. 

The ATP brought the hammer down on Zverev on Thursday. 

Per PA Media (h/t The Guardian) and The Associated Press (h/t ESPN), the ATP fined Zverev $40,000 and made him forfeit prize money of over $30,000. Those are the maximum financial punishments the ATP could impose on the 24-year-old, who has since apologized via an Instagram post and privately to Germani. Zverev nevertheless could face a future ban. 

"Following ATP’s withdrawal of Alexander Zverev from this week’s tournament in Acapulco due to unsportsmanlike conduct, the player has received the following on-site penalties; verbal abuse - 20,000 US dollars, unsportsmanlike conduct - 20,000 US dollars," an ATP statement reads. "This represents the maximum fine per each violation. Zverev also forfeits full prize money of 31,570 US dollars (singles and doubles), as well as all ATP rankings points from the event.

"A further review of the incident will now follow per ATP rules." 

Zverev expressed remorse in his Instagram post, but it was too little and too late. 

"It is difficult to put into words how much I regret my behavior during and after the doubles match yesterday," he wrote, as noted by Sky Sports. "I have privately apologized to the chair umpire because my outburst towards him was wrong and unacceptable, and I am only disappointed in myself. It just should not have happened and there is no excuse.

"I would also like to apologize to my fans, the tournament and the sport that I love. As you know, I leave everything on the court. Yesterday, I left too much. I am going to take the coming days to reflect - on my actions and how I can ensure that it will not happen again. I am sorry for letting you down."