Rublev Calls on ATP to Review Rule That Led to Default in Dubai 

Russia's Andrey Rublev argues with an official after he was defaulted against Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan after their semi-final match at the ATP Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship in Dubai on March 1, 2024. (AFP)
Russia's Andrey Rublev argues with an official after he was defaulted against Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan after their semi-final match at the ATP Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship in Dubai on March 1, 2024. (AFP)
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Rublev Calls on ATP to Review Rule That Led to Default in Dubai 

Russia's Andrey Rublev argues with an official after he was defaulted against Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan after their semi-final match at the ATP Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship in Dubai on March 1, 2024. (AFP)
Russia's Andrey Rublev argues with an official after he was defaulted against Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan after their semi-final match at the ATP Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship in Dubai on March 1, 2024. (AFP)

Andrey Rublev has called on the ATP Tour to change the rule that led to him being defaulted at the Dubai Tennis Championships last week.

Rublev was defaulted by the chair umpire after a Russian-speaking official said he had used an obscenity while yelling at a line judge over a call during his semi-final with Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik on Friday.

Rublev denied the accusation and urged the officials to review video of the incident, a request which was rejected.

Bublik was ahead 6-7(4) 7-6(5) 6-5 when he was awarded the win but world number five Rublev later successfully appealed the decision and will retain the ranking points and prize money he earned, barring a fine of $36,400 for a code violation.

In a post on Instagram, Rublev thanked the appeals committee but said the rules needed a rethink.

"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," Rublev said.

Reuters has contacted the ATP for comment.

"While I'm 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," Rublev added.



Saudi Arabia to Participate in FISU World University Games Summer in Germany

Saudi Arabia to participate in FISU World University Games
Saudi Arabia to participate in FISU World University Games
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Saudi Arabia to Participate in FISU World University Games Summer in Germany

Saudi Arabia to participate in FISU World University Games
Saudi Arabia to participate in FISU World University Games

The FISU World University Games Summer will kick off on Wednesday in Germany, running from July 16 to 27, with the participation of more than 8,500 university athletes from 150 countries.

Saudi Arabia will be represented at the global event by 36 male and female athletes from various Saudi universities, under the supervision of the Saudi University Sports Federation, the Saudi Press Agency said on Wednesday.

The Kingdom’s university champions will compete in five sports: track and field, badminton, taekwondo, table tennis, and fencing.