Andrey Rublev advocates for a rule adjustment following his elimination from the Dubai semi-final.

Tennis

The ATP Tour is facing scrutiny after Andrey Rublev's controversial default from his semi-final match against Alexander Bublik at the Dubai Tennis Championships. Rublev was accused of verbally abusing a line judge by a Russian-speaking official, leading to his disqualification by the chair umpire.

Rublev vehemently denied the accusation and requested a review of the incident through video evidence, which was denied. Despite being behind in the match, Rublev successfully appealed the decision later on. He will keep his ranking points and prize money, with a fine of $36,400 (£28,713) for a code violation.

Taking to Instagram, Rublev expressed gratitude to the appeals committee but also called for a reassessment of the rules. He hoped for changes that would prevent officials from determining match outcomes without clear evidence and without allowing players the opportunity for video review.

Though disappointed by the outcome of his semi-final, Rublev expressed appreciation for the support he received from fans and followers during the ordeal.