Alexander Zverev arrived over an hour late for a scheduled practice session at the Shanghai Masters, displacing American finalist Ben Shelton and 17-year-old Australian prospect Cruz Hewitt from Court 5. Social media users and Chinese media outlets criticized the world No. 2’s handling of the incident, with observers questioning the fairness of displacing punctual players and restricting fan viewing to areas behind security barriers.
The Schedule Disruption on Court 5
The incident unfolded as Zverev arrived more than 60 minutes behind schedule for a training session originally booked for 10:30 a.m. local time on Court 5 at the Shanghai tournament venue. Shelton and Hewitt had arrived on time for their own practice session scheduled for 12:00 p.m., appearing on the court roughly ten minutes before Zverev ultimately walked out to begin his preparation.
Following a brief verbal exchange on the court, Zverev proceeded with his practice session on Court 5. Shelton and Hewitt were forced to relocate to an alternate practice court elsewhere in the facility. Local observers noted that the secondary court offered significantly poorer sightlines for spectators, leaving fans to watch the practice sessions restricted behind security fencing.
Social Media Outrage and Fan Reaction
Video footage and accounts shared across digital platforms drew sharp criticism from attendees and online commentators. One spectator wrote on X that Hewitt had arrived on time only to be removed from the court, comparing the restricted viewing areas behind the fences to a prison enclosure and questioning whether the conduct amounted to bullying. Another witness confirmed the timeline on social media, noting that Zverev’s hitting partner resorted to jumping rope on the court while waiting past the scheduled hour for the German player to arrive.
The timing coincided with Zverev’s run at the tournament, where the German advanced past Frenchman Quentin Halys with a 6:4, 6:8 (8:10), 6:3 victory in the round of 16. With world No. 1 Jannik Sinner sidelined by injury, a deep run in Shanghai places Zverev in position to claim the top spot in the rankings by the end of the season.
Background of Cruz Hewitt
Cruz Hewitt, the 17-year-old son of former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt, competes as an emerging junior on the international tennis circuit. Beyond his on-court status as one of Australia’s rising young talents, Hewitt has drawn media attention for his close association with Myla Rose Federer, one of the twin daughters of Roger Federer. While tabloids and social media reports frequently speculate about a relationship between the two teenagers, no official confirmation has been issued regarding their personal lives.
Tournament Context and Next Steps
Zverev continues his campaign at the Shanghai Masters following his three-set victory over Halys. Tournament organizers have not issued a formal statement regarding the practice court scheduling dispute, and players are scheduled to continue their tournament preparations ahead of the upcoming quarterfinal matches.
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