What was going through his mind? Russian Andrey Rublev, world number five, was disqualified this Friday March 1 in the semi-final of the ATP 500 tournament in Dubai, where he faced Kazakh Alexander Bublik (23rd), for yelling at a line judge.
Completely crazy scene in Dubai: Andrey Rublev breaks down, insults a referee (in Russian) and gets disqualified! He loses his points for the week, his prize money, and will leave the top 5 ???? #HomeOfTennis pic.twitter.com/mDseUb1CUY
— Eurosport France (@Eurosport_FR) March 1, 2024
Rublev and Bublik were neck and neck in the third and final set (6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/5), 6-5) when the Russian, seeded number 2 in the tournament, s He is verbally attacked by a linesman, without anyone being able to hear his words.
The referee in question claimed that the player had insulted him in Russian. Rublev assured that he spoke in English and did not use foul language. The referee maintained his version and the world number five was disqualified after intervention by the ATP supervisor.
Bublik, seeded number 7, will meet in the final the winner of the match between Russian Daniil Medvedev, world number four, and Frenchman Ugo Humbert (18th).
