LONDON (AP) Police are investigating an assault complaint filed against David Nalbandian after the Argentine tennis player kicked an advertising board and injured a line judge during the Queen's Club final.
London police declined to say who made the complaint against Nalbandian, who was defaulted from Sunday's match against Marin Cilic in the grass-court Wimbledon warmup event.
Any member of the public who witnessed the event in person or on television could have made a complaint, as could the line judge himself.
''We are aware of an incident at the Aegon Championships,'' theMetropolitan Police said in a statement on Monday. ''A complaint has been made and the Metropolitan Police Service is now investigating. The allegation is of assault.''
Nalbandian won the first set 7-6 (3) but lost his temper after losing serve to fall behind 3-4 in the second. After missing a running forehand on game point, he kicked the board under the chair of line judge Andrew McDougall. A piece of the board cut the judge on the left shin, leaving him bloodied from an inch long gash.
Tournament director Chris Kermode said McDougall received first-aid care but needed no further treatment after seeing a doctor.
Nalbandian was disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct. ATP rules state that any violent action will result in an automatic default.
Nalbandian also was stripped of his $57,350 in prize money and could face a fine. He is still scheduled to play at Wimbledon, which starts Monday.
Nalbandian insisted he shouldn't have been disqualified.
''It's very tough to end a final like that,'' he said.
2 comments:
I don't know definition of "assault" under British law, but would most likely not be an assault in most U.S. jurisdictions as he clearly had no intent to injure or threatened to injure the linesperson. Should be grounds for default in all tennis jurisdictions however.
Just watched the replay of the match. Perhaps if he had been warned about throwing his racquet the THIRD time when it almost went into the seats but was stopped by the barrier around the courts,he may have realized he could be coded.
Post a Comment