Bizarre end to tennis final

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/nalbandian-disqualified-kicking-official-145952330.html

Cilic wins Queen's title after Nalbandian disqualified

David Nalbandian was disqualified in the final of ATP Queen's Club for kicking and injuring a line judge, handing the title to opponent Marin Cilic by default.

The Argentine 10th seed had won the first set on a tie-break 7-6(3), but after being broken by the Croatian sixth seed midway through the second set to put him 4-3 behind Nalbandian kicked out in frustration at an advertising hoarding.
Unfortunately, the hoarding was right at the feet of line judge Andre McDougall, who caught the full force of Nalbandian's kick on his legs and eventually limped off court for treatment with his left shin bleeding.
After prolonged discussions between a number of tournament and ATP officials, umpire Fergus Murphy handed a code violation for unsportsmanlike behaviour to the 2002 Wimbledon finalist and awarded Cilic his first title of 2012.
The relevant ATP code states: "Players shall not at any time physically abuse any official, opponent, spectator or other person within the precincts of the tournament site. For purposes of this rule, physical abuse is the unauthorized touching of an official, opponent, and spectator or other person."
As a result, Nalbandian not only lost his right to play for the trophy, but also his prize money (around £36,000) and his ATP ranking points for reaching the fina

Of course one is reminded of John McEnroe in the 1990 Australian Open where he was disqualified after three code violations,and many thought that even this was ten years too late with that player as he seemingly pushed the boundaries at every match since he had reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon in 1977. Speaking of Wimbledon one recalls the 1995 incident at a men's doubles match where Tim Henman accidently hit a ball girl in the ear with a tennis ball after a tantrum.The differing temperaments between the two players suggested how stressful and performance-driven the sport had become in the modern era.

Notwithstanding one might speculate on the corollary to genius,namely that those who possess an exceptional gift in a particular area such as Wayne Rooney,Beethoven,the late Steve Jobs,Billie Jean King might not be the nicest people to meet in real life. Just how nasty a person has to be with talent to reach the top is a moot point. When we get a black youth from Brixton with a tennis racquet in his hand is the day we Brits might just win Wimbledon,instead of the heaven-sent Tim Henman must have been for the Wimbledon tennis committee. Of course one longs for the days of Bjorn Borg..

No sorry I don't wish to denigrate any black person,just wouldn't it stick in the Establishment's gullet to have to hand the trophy to someone who may not be of their set..

Well yes but he was American,the tax rates hadn't come down in 1975,and they were quite different days in tennis terms as well..

Well it might say something about how the nature of the sport had changed,that winning,greed and gamesmanship all played an increasing part,concomitant of course with those massive new racquets which should never have been allowed..

With McEnroe I have a feeling it bordered on gamesmanship..his antics were dreadful most of the time,and people just sat back and took it because the stars had become bigger than the tournament..well done Gerry Armstrong for having the courage to disqualify him. With Henman I don't think it was directed against anyone else,just he felt a weight of expectation on his shoulders as our best home-grown hope to win Wimbledon since Fred Perry in the 1930s..but two different personalities who both felt pressure..

I met and spoke to John McEnroe on a dozen occaisions during his Wimbledon hayday ...and I found him to be courteous and generally nice each time

True I think it all started with Nastase. it was the constant line-call questioning that turned people against McEnroe in particular,Connors used to make personal comments and grunt a bit as he struck the ball,another tactic which should have been stamped upon in the early days before the likes of Monica Seles and Maria Sharapova continued that tradition. It's an unfair tactic which may well put their opponent off psychologically,as well as he or she not being able to hear the trajectory of the ball and where it might bounce.

That's fine hotspur but his on-court behaviour was reprehensible and should have been stamped on when it appeared at first. No player is bigger than the tournament,but that's exactly what they became as the sponsors demanded ever higher viewing figures and the players received astronomical prize money the court officials became frightened to impose what few powers they had at their disposal.

No,but my boss would have much preferred it if I was

You should not be allowed to win at the expense of stretching the rules to breaking point and so discomfit your opponent that you win by default.

You say no player is bigger than the tournament-fine,but the main reason I watched was cos of McCenroe.Never ever liked tennis.........Weeeelll,cept when Chris Evert was playing and,of course,Anna Kornikova pre internet