Alexander Zverev has admitted that the temper tantrum which saw him kicked out of a tournament in Mexico was "embarrassing" and the "biggest mistake" of his career.
The German was expelled from the Abierto Mexicano Telcel in Acapulco after a display of shocking behaviour at the end of a doubles match.
First there was an x-rated rant at chair umpire Alessandro Germani after the tennis star disagreed with a decision, which went against him and partner Marcelo Melo.
Then, once the match was over and their defeat was confirmed, Zverev lost his temper and smashed his racket repeatedly into the chair – leaving the official visibly uncomfortable.
Hours later, tournament organisers announced that he would be kicked out of the singles draw, while the ATP began an investigation into the incident.
The world number three learned this week that he would have to pay a £31,000 fine, while he was also slapped with an eight-week ban, suspended for one year.
Zverev will have to keep his nose clean for the next 12 months to avoid a lengthy ban, and has vowed that he will never again lose control like he did that night in Acapulco.
"It still is embarrassing for me now," he said. "Walking around the locker room, it's not a nice feeling.
"But we all do mistakes. I'm also a human being, and I can guarantee you I will never act this way again in my life. It was definitely the worst moment of my life."
To get better control over his emotions, Zverev revealed that he has been taking part in stress-relief sessions.
"I've been doing work, meditation-wise," he added. "I think there are stress situations in everyone's life where stuff like this happens. I'm not the first, I won't be the last for something bad to happen on the court.
"I know who I am as a person and this doesn't reflect on me. I had played until 5am the day before – the same day I went back to play doubles.
"I am somebody that gives it his all on the court. I think a lot of top singles players would have maybe come out to the doubles court and if they would have lost the match, they would have been fine with it.
"I would have never physically harmed anyone."
And the German admitted that a lengthy ban would be a fair punishment if he were to act in a similar way again in the future.
"If I do that again, they have every right to ban me – it's as simple as that," he said.
"If I do that again, it means I haven't learnt. I think everybody in life deserves a second chance but if you repeatedly do mistakes it means that you haven't learnt."
