"I promise I will learn from this": Andrey Rublev reflects after Dubai default drama, promises to be a better player and person going forward

Andrey Rublev has said he will "learn" from his default at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and "will try to be a better player and better person" in a statement on social media.

Rublev was speaking for the first time since being disqualified from his semi final match against Alexander Bublik where he was seen shouting in the face of a line judge. After being deemed to have used a Russian expletive, he was forced to exit the event prematurely.

The World number five was initially stripped of his prize money and world ranking points, but was then given them after winning an appeal. In a post on X, Rublev said: "I want to thank the appeal committee for approving my appeal and changing course on the ATPs initial decision of disqualifying me from the Dubai semi final and taking away the rankings points and prize money I earned last week.

"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. While I am 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. Thank you to everyone supporting me, I promise I will learn from this and will try to be a better player and better person."

Rublev is next in action at Indian Wells, where he could face Andy Murray or a qualifier in the second round.