"Not sure how many matches McEnroe would finish in 2024": Adrian Mannarino, Nick Kyrgios among others back Andrey Rublev amid default drama

After Andrey Rublev's default at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, it sparked reactions from the tennis world, including responses from his colleagues Nick Kyrgios, Adrian Mannarino and Reilly Opelka

The Russian tennis player was facing Aleksandr Bublik in a highly competitive semi-final at the Dubai Open. Rublev had taken the lead in the first set, but Bublik managed to push it to the decisive set, where it seemed that another tie-break was on the horizon.

Read also

(VIDEO) Andrey Rublev loses his mind, screams in face of line judge who speaks Russian and gets immediately defaulted in Dubai

The match seemed destined for yet another tie-break with the score at 5-5 and Bublik serving. A narrowly missed forehand gave the game to the Kazakh, who took a 6-5 lead. This prompted Rublev's frustration, leading him to shout at a line judge for what he perceived as a refereeing mistake.

Another official, fluent in Russian, informed the chair umpire that Rublev had sworn in his native language, although Rublev denied it: "I was talking to him in English," he said. Umpire Miram Bley defaulted Rublev, and as the hours passed, several of his colleagues expressed their support for the 2023 Monte-Carlo champion.

Read also

(VIDEO) Corentin Moutet draws the ire of Nicolas Jarry after Santiago win: "He said pathetic, I don't know why"

Adrian Mannarino drew a comparison with John McEnroe, suggesting that the American would have been disqualified many times if the same criteria were applied. Similarly, Nick Kyrgios commended Bublik for expressing his desire to continue with the match.

"Omg coming out to snitch! Not sure how many matches Mc Enroe would finish in 2024," Mannarino wrote.

"Class from Bublik, saying he wanted to continue. Respect. Feel for Rublev. Did not warrant a default," Kyrgios wrote.

Even Reilly Opelka expressed on Instagram: "Bush league... the linesman should get demoted to pickleball asap; That ref's a f****** moron."

Adrian Mannarino

@AdrianMannarino

·Follow

Omg coming out to snitch 🤦🏻‍♂️! Not sure how many matches Mc Enroe would finish in 2024

2.6K

Reply

Copy link

Read 204 replies

Tennys Sandgren

@TennysSandgren

·Follow

Pretty wild that the supervisor can just come on court and default you cuz some lines ref said you cursed in russian Rublev should absolutely appeal this and seek winners prize money in court tbh. Because the on court reason given to him was bullshit

1.0K

Reply

Copy link

Read 109 replies

Nicholas Kyrgios

@NickKyrgios

·Follow

Class from Bublik, saying he wanted to continue. Respect. Feel for Rublev. Did not warrant a default.

3.9K

Reply

Copy link

Read 163 replies