World no.5 Andrey Rublev has been defaulted in the semi-finals at ATP Dubai Championships after swearing at a line judge.
With the score 7-6(4) 6-7(5) 5-6 against rising Kazakh star Alexander Bublik, the second seed exploded at the official after believing a ball from his opponent to have been out.
The match referee investigated the incident and evidence pointed to expletives used by Rublev, which then saw the Australian Open quarter-finalist disqualified.
MORE: Who is the world No.1 in men's tennis? Updated ATP rankings and explainer after Australian Open
Video of Andrey Rublev default
After what was the final point of the match, Rublev stormed over to the line judge and screamed at the official in frustration.
Following an investigation and a revelation that the line judge understood Russian, Rublev was defaulted for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Rublev had denied his outburst was in Russian, insisting it was in English.
Andrey Rublev is defaulted from the Dubai semi-final, sending Alexander Bublik through to the #DDFTennis final pic.twitter.com/tclfcXxDYY
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 1, 2024
While the punishment was being handed out, Bublik was heard to say he was happy to continue the match.
Bublik will now meet Ugo Humbert in the final, after the Frenchman sensationally upset top seed Daniil Medvedev.
Rublev's ranking will drop out of the top five after this tournament with the player reaching the final of the same event last season.
Where is Andrey Rublev from?
Rublev, 26, was born in Moscow, Russia and has previously represented Russia at international tournaments.
Along with many others, Rublev is not permitted to compete under the Russian flag at the Australian Open. Here's why:
Why are tennis players competing under a white flag or with no flag?
For the third year in a row, the Australian Open has said that while there will be no restrictions on Russian and Belarusian tennis players competing, they will be unable to compete under the flag or name of their countries, including on their clothes and via the broadcast.
“Players from Russia and Belarus are only able to compete in international tennis events as individuals – and without flags or country recognition – which will be the case for Australian Open 2023,” Tennis Australia said via a statement before last year's event.
“Tennis Australia stands united with the international governing bodies of tennis - the grand slams, the ATP and WTA Tours and the ITF - in its condemnation of Russia’s actions and its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine."
Along with Rublev, several other big names in the tournament such as Daniil Medvedev and Aryna Sabalenka are also competing under no national flag.
