Fabio Fognini was disqualified on Wednesday, during the second round of the Barcelona tournament, for insults against the linesman.
The Italian was trailing World No.147 Bernabe Zapata Miralles 6-0, 4-4 when he clashed with the official. He skidded and left the Catalan tournament by the back door.
It’s difficult to clearly understand the words spoken by Fognini on the court. However, the 33-year-old tennis player said he did nothing and ended up being wronged.
“I’m really surprised with the ATP, especially the chair umpire and the supervisor, because I was here to play tennis, I was here to fight in the match, and even if I was losing, doesn’t matter,” Fognini said.
“But what they did to me was something inexplicable, so I’m going to investigate it, but nothing more. I paid for something that I didn’t do, that’s the first and clearest thing that everybody has to know.” Fognini added.
Like Fognini, world number one Novak Djokovic who was disqualified from the 2020 US Open for hitting a line judge with a ball. Meanwhile Nick Kyrgios was also defaulted at the Rome tournament in 2019 after hurling a chair on to the court.
Fognini admitted that he is not the most relaxed tennis player, but insisted that he has not crossed the line.
“There are bad words that I say sometimes that fly through the air, I know, but I don’t do that to hurt or disrespect anyone.” Fogini said.
“Everyone knows me, I’m not going to say I’m a good guy, I’ve been called a ‘bad boy’ many times in my career, but as I said before, I was trying to fight and get back in the game. I’m very surprised ” he added.
