Andrey Rublev slammed for showing ‘zero remorse’ over ‘gross misconduct’ by former umpire
Former tennis umpire Richard Ings has lambasted Andrey Rublev over his controversial Dubai disqualification, describing his actions as “gross and unconscionable misconduct.”
Ings hit out at Rublev for showing “zero remorse” and told the Russian he would have thrown his appeal “in the bin” and “backed the on court officials.”
Rublev was defaulted while trailing 5-6 in the third set of his Dubai semi-final match against Alexander Bublik last week after angrily complaining to a line judge.
The world No 5 was exasperated at the line judge for not calling a Bublik shot out as he lost the game and was then disqualified after another official told the umpire he heard Rublev swear at his colleague. The 26-year-old denied he had been speaking in Russian or sworn, with Bublik backing him up.
Rublev has been fined $36,000, but he has had the ranking points he earned during the ATP 500 tournament reinstated following an appeal — after he was stripped of them in the initial punishment.
READ MORE: Jimmy Connors gives his strong verdict on Andrey Rublev’s dramatic Dubai disqualification
In a statement shared on social media, Rublev expressed his gratitude for the ATP’s appeal process, while calling for video reviews to be introduced.
“I want to thank the appeal committee for approving my appeal and changing course on the ATPs initial decision of disqualifying me from the Dubai semi-final and taking away the rankings points and prize money I earned last week,” he wrote.
“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.
“While I am 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, I received a lot of messages.
“Thank you to everyone supporting me, I promise I will learn from this and will try to be a better player and better person.”
Ings, who was the ATP’s head of officiating from 2001 to 2005, quoted Rublev’s tweet and slammed him for his behaviour and lack of apology.
No public apology for his gross misconduct towards the defenceless line umpire.
Walking up screaming, poking his racket near the line umpires face. Unconscionable misconduct and zero remorse.
I would have thrown your appeal in the bin and backed the on court officials. https://t.co/FSalbG885b
— Richard Ings : Renewable Energy Beneficiary (@ringsau) March 5, 2024
“No public apology for his gross misconduct towards the defenceless line umpire,” the Australian wrote.
“Walking up screaming, poking his racket near the line umpires face. Unconscionable misconduct and zero remorse. I would have thrown your appeal in the bin and backed the on court officials.”
READ MORE: ‘Good guy’ Andrey Rublev told ‘what he did was unacceptable’ as ‘he crossed a line and went too far’
