'F*** you': Alexander Zverev crashes out of US Open in ugly meltdown

Alexander Zverev has crashed out of the US Open in fiery scenes, hit with a point penalty late in the match for an audible obscenity.

The sixth-seeded doubled-faulted 17 times on his way out, Schwartzman taking full advantage in beating him 3-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 to advance to the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows for the second time.

The match was marred by an ugly moment late in the fourth set when Zverev surrendered a game after being docked a point.

Zverev yelled “f*** you” towards his players box and appeared to flip them the middle finger, although the reason for his anger wasn’t clear.

He was then hit with an audible obscenity violation and a point penalty because it was his second code violation after ball abuse earlier in the match.

Zverev was left raging because he hadn’t heard the umpire give him the first violation, while Schwartzman came to the net to confess he too didn’t know Zverev was on his last warning.

"Code violation is fine. I didn't even argue that. But neither of us heard me getting a warning in the first place," Zverev said afterwards.

"I didn't hear it. Diego didn't hear it. Most of the crowd didn't hear it. I think the umpires next time should let me know about it.”

Zverev admitted himself and other youngsters on the tour need to look to the likes of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal when assessing their behaviour.

"I hope some of the NextGen or the young guys will kind of learn from the older guys like Roger and Rafa, who have been unbelievable over their career, (who) really let their racquet talk for them, not try to distract opponents, something like that,” he said.

"They're winning right now. I hope that kind of changes in the NextGen, as well."

Zverev's serving problems have dogged him for months and they came back in force against Schwartzman.

The lanky German lost his serve eight times, won just 32 percent of second-serve points and amassed 65 unforced errors.

The 20th-seeded Schwartzman, meanwhile, went about his steady baseline and retrieving game, taking the majority of long rallies in a match when some points went on for as many as 35 strokes.

The Argentine, who previously reached the quarter-finals at the French Open last year and Flushing Meadows in 2017, next takes on the winner of the match later between second-seeded Rafael Nadal and No. 22 Marin Cilic.

Berrettini advances

Meanwhile, Matteo Berrettini has overpowered Andrey Rublev 6-1 6-4 7-6 (8-6) to become the first Italian man in the US Open quarter-finals since 1977.

Berrettini, the No.24 seed from Italy, relied on a strong service game and some well-timed drop shots to overcome Rublev, who had taken out the volatile Nick Kyrgios and No.8 Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Berrettini won 14 of his 15 service games and more than 80 per cent of his first-serve points, and he ripped 37 winners, including a deftly angled volley on match point to close it out on Monday.

It's his deepest run at a grand slam event after reaching the fourth round at this year's Wimbledon.

Berrettini became the first Italian man in the US quarterfinals since Corrado Barazzutti 42 years ago.

with agencies