Nalbandian lashes out at Queen's - Sky News Australia

Updated: 15:32, Monday June 18, 2012

Argentine tennis player David Nalbandian blames ATP after being sensationally defaulted from the Queen's Club final for injuring a linesman.

Dismayed fans at the traditional Wimbledon lead-in event vented their disappointment by jeering Nalbandian after he petulantly kicked a courtside advertising sign, causing a cut in linesman Andrew McDougall's left shin midway through the second set.

Veteran ATP supervisor Tom Barnes immediately defaulted him for 'unsportsmanlike conduct' and conceded in 22 years of working for tennis's governing body he'd never before seen blood drawn on a court.

'Once I saw the injury, no, that was not a judgment call. I didn't have any other option,' Barnes said.

Nalbandian, a career arch-rival of Lleyton Hewitt who clashed with the Australian during their spiteful Australian Open quarter-final in 2005, accepted his fate somewhat begrudgingly.

'I know that I do a mistake, 100 per cent, and I feel very sorry to the guy. I didn't want to do that,' he said. 'Everybody do mistakes, right?'

Nalbandian was heckled by spectators when he turned his frustrations on officials during the presentation ceremony.

Then the one-time world No.3 and 2002 Wimbledon finalist continued his attack in his post-match press conference.

'It was a very tough moment to end a final like that, but sometimes we feel so much pressure from the ATP, trying to play a lot of tournaments,' Nalbandian said.

'In the beginning of the year, you have to sign that you agree with everything that the ATP says and sometimes you don't.

'And if you don't want to sign, you cannot play ATP tournaments. So you don't have chance to ask, to tell, to change something, nothing.'

One of Nalbandian's biggest gripes was being asked to play 'on (a) dangerous surface' and he insisted he had the support of fellow professionals.

But his opponent on Sunday, Croatian Marin Cilic, had little sympathy for Nalbandian after claiming a hollow title victory.

'You have to be ready for everything,' said Cilic, who was trailing 7-6 (7-3) 4-3 but up a service break in the second set when handed the match.

'To end the week like this feels a bit bitter.'

On top of his default, Nalbandian forfeited his STG30,000 ($A46,875) prize money and all rankings points he would have accrued for making the final.

He faces a fine of up to STG10,000 ($A15,625), while Barnes said officials would also investigate Nalbandian's fierce criticism of the ATP.

Perhaps aware he could also face an eight-week ban, having previously been fined $8,000 for throwing water at an Australian Open tournament worker in January following a five-set defeat to America's John Isner, Nalbandian later issued a second apology taking full responsibility.

'I never intended to hit him (the line judge), it was an unfortunate reaction in which I wanted to let off steam after losing a point,' he said.

'I had the opportunity to personally apologise to the line umpire for this regrettable act that I am fully responsible for.'