Andrey Rublev name-dropped Rafael Nadal in a frustrated rant to the umpire during his match at the Madrid Open. The world No. 8 was left disgruntled when Alejandro Davidovich Fokina was awarded a point despite both players hearing that one of his shots was called out. Rublev was booed by the Spanish crowd when he approached the chair to argue his case.
There was more drama at the Madrid Open on Sunday when Rublev felt hard done by after losing a crucial point to Davidovich Fokina. The Spaniard was serving at 3-4 down and found himself at 30-30 after losing the first two points of the game
One of Davidovich Fokina’s shots was called out and the 27th seed immediately challenged it. But there was some confusion when it turned out that the ball had actually been called in and he cancelled the challenge. The umpire awarded him the point instead of replaying it, setting Rublev off.
The 26-year-old marched to the chair to argue that his return had been affected by the out call but Adel Nour wasn’t having it. “We don’t have a review, we have to play,” the umpire informed Rublev as boos and whistles rang out through the Manolo Santana Stadium.
“I swear I know I bring the ball out, I’m not saying nothing. He called it before I shoot,” Rublev replied, explaining that his missed return was the result of the linesman’s out call. But there was nothing that could be done as the umpire added: “I promise you I will see it after the match but for now [we have to play].”
Rublev then dragged Nadal’s name into the conversation, referencing another incident that happened in the former world No. 1’s match on Saturday. Continuing his tirade, the world No. 7 said: “It’s the same thing like with Rafa happened yesterday, exactly the same. Now I start to think that we need only machines on court instead of referees. I respect, I know that I bring the ball out. I won’t say nothing. But he called it before I shoot.”
But Nour didn’t agree and Rublev was forced to keep playing. “But this is what I’m trying to tell you. For me, the call came after you hit the ball. That’s why it did not affect you, I have to judge,” the umpire explained.
It comes after Nadal demanded the supervisor at the beginning of his second-round match against Alex De Minaur. The 37-year-old thought one of De Minaur’s shots was out and stopped playing, circling the ball mark on the clay. But because he failed to verbally request a challenge, the umpire awarded the point to his opponent and refused to call the supervisor.
“It’s your fault – if I stop and mark the ball – it’s your fault that you say that I want to keep playing, you not understanding,” Nadal argued. But chair official Fergus Murphy held his ground and replied: “But I saw everything, I just didn’t see you challenging. I need you to do something.”
Nadal went on to win the match, earning the biggest scalp of his comeback as he sent the world No. 11 packing. And Rublev will be hoping that he can also overcome the drama to defeat Davidovich Fokina. He managed to win a marathon first set 12-10 in the tiebreak.
