Angry Argie: David Nalbandian goes nuts [VIDEO]

 
John Davidson Roar Guru

By , 18 Jun 2012 John Davidson is a Roar Guru

Tagged:
 ,

    8 Have your say

    Related coverage

    Sports Highlights
    Watch more sports news video


    You could say modern tennis has been missing a strong villain of late, but Argentine Daivd Nalbandian has thrown his hat in the ring to take that role with a spectacular dummy spit at the Queen’s Club final in London.

    The old nemesis of Lleyton Hewitt, Nalbandian was disqualified from the final against Marin Cilic for kicking an advertising board at a line judge which cut the judge’s leg.

    Nalbandian was behind 4-3 in the second set, after winning the first 7-6, when he lost his serve and had a brain explosion. Check it out here.

    It’s hard to empathise with Nalbandian. Sure, he was frustrated. But to kick out towards the official, and it was pretty clear as day that the board was right next to the line judge, was plain stupid.

    The fiery Argentine was given the punt for unsportmanslike beahaviour and later apologised for his actions. Apparently he was unhappy at having to play back-to-back three-set matches on Friday due to bad weather, the poor thing.

    “First of all, I’m very sorry to do that, but sometimes you get very frustrated here on court,” he said.

    “It’s tough to control that and sometimes I do a mistake. I agreed with that. So 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.”

    The Queen’s crowd then booed him and Nalbandian said: “No, no, no, hear this. In wet conditions, the ATP doesn’t do anything to us… The rule book is very big – very big – and I can tell you ATP do a lot of mistakes, a lot of mistakes to the players and that can happen. So players disagree (with) ATP.”

    As apologies go, it was hardly a stirring one. Nalbandian has form when it comes to petulant behaviour on the court.

    Hi rap sheet is a long one – calling an umpire stupid at this year’s Australian Open. Calling the crowd “fucking English whores” at Wimbeldon in 2006. A public run-in with Tim Henman and being at centre of drama within the Argentine camp during the 2008 Davis Cup tie with Spain.

    He won’t win too many popularity contests.

    Tennis hasn’t really had a loud and abrasive male super-villian since John McEnroe put away the racquet. Maybe the 30-year old Nalbandian wants to take the mantle. If so, he’s doing a good job.