Andrey Rublev has called on the ATP Tour to modify the regulation that caused him to be defaulted at the Dubai Tennis Championships. Rublev was defaulted by the chair umpire. After a Russian-speaking official claimed he uttered an obscenity while shouting at a line judge over a call in his semifinal against Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik on Friday.
Rublev refuted the accusation and asked officials to review video of the incident, which was denied.
Bublik was leading 6-7 (4), 7-6 (5), 6-5 when he was granted the win. But Rublev, the world’s No. 5 player, successfully appealed the judgement. And will keep the ranking points and prize money he won, subject to a $36,400 punishment for a code breach. Also read: Hopman Cup cancelled for 2024, to return in 2025
“The appeals committee concluded that, beyond forfeiting the match, customary penalties associated with a default — namely loss of rankings points and prize money for the entire tournament — would be disproportionate in this case,” the ATP said in a statement Monday.
Rublev praised the appeals committee in an Instagram post, but suggested that the regulations be reconsidered.
“I hope that in the future, the ATP will take a closer look at this rule and make changes to it. So that an official can’t force a match outcome. Without having clear evidence and not letting the player have a video review,” he said. Also read: Czech Tennis Boss Stays In Detention Amid Fraud Investigation
“While I’m disappointed that I wasn’t able to finish my semi-final in Dubai. I am grateful for all the support I had from you the last two days” he said.