Andrey Rublev admitted that his reaction was “unacceptable” after he erupted during his semi-final match at the Ultimate Tennis Showdown. The world No 5 thought he had played a bonus card that gave him three extra points, not realising that the umpire instead allowed his rival Holger Rune to attempt to use the same trick. Rublev then halted play as he ranted at tournament officials before he went on to lose the quarter and the match itself.
Rublev became embroiled in drama at the conclusion of the second quarter of his UTS semi-final against Rune. The unique tennis league sees players attempt to score as many points as possible over the course of four eight-minute-long quarters. It was Rune who won the first quarter and, at the end of the second, the 26-year-old was confused to learn that he was level at 11-11 in points.
He thought he had used a bonus card that gave him three points if he won the next rally, leading him to believe that he was 12-10 up at the end of the eight minutes, but later realised that it was Rune who was using it at the time. Rublev went on a rant as he asked the umpire, the supervisor and tournament creator Patrick Mouratoglou to grant him a replay.
Rublev later admitted that his behaviour had been unacceptable as he explained why the incident provoked him so much. “It is what it is. The moment was very emotional and of course I should maybe react a bit different but I was just a bit disappointed,” the world No 5 explained.
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“When you run for every point, long rallies, a very intense match, the heart rate is very high and then this situation happens, you feel very disappointed and [like] all your work was for nothing.” Although Rublev had an explanation for his outburst, he still admitted that he wasn’t happy with his conduct.
He added: “And I reacted not acceptable and then what happened, happened.” The Russian – whose UTS nickname is ‘Rublo’ – also explained that he simply wanted officials to watch a video replay of the moment and, had it emerged that he did request to use the three-point card before Rune, have the extra points added to the score.
Rublev continued: “It was 9-8, I remember I missed a backhand at the set so it was 10-8 for Holger and I started to show three [fingers], I didn’t say it but I was showing it and then the screen said bonus card so I was thinking it’s my three points. So I won the rally and in my head I was 11-10 up and then I won one more point so in my head I was 12-10 up. But in reality, it was that it was the three-point card for Rune, he lost it, it was 10-9, then when the time was over it was 11-11 and not 12-10 for me.
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“That was the situation and the only thing I was asking was just, if he was the first one [to request to use the card] I am okay but just check the replay, that’s the only thing I was checking. Because it’s an exhibiton, no one cares, I was just asking will you check a replay and then you see if he was first.”
Rublev also thought that, if they did use a replay to see that he was correct, he should have been given the extra points. In regular ATP Tour events, the supervisor cannot overrule a decision that has already been made but the world No 5 argued that they should be able to at UTS.
He concluded: “It’s not the ATP where if they make a decision, even if they make a mistake, it [stays] like this. It’s an exhibition so we can play a more fair game here so that’s what I was asking, just check on a replay who was the first one and that’s it.”
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