Tursunov launches verbal attack on umpire

Raging Dmitry Tursunov compared umpire Fergus Murphy to Saddam Hussein after being given a point penalty at a crucial point in his five-set loss to Jarkko Nieminen.

Tursunov was penalised at the start of the final game of the match after reacting to losing his own service game by angrily hitting a ball in the umpire’s direction.

Nieminen closed out their fourth-round tussle 7-5 6-4 6-7 6-7 9-7 before Tursunov launched his furious attack on Dubliner Murphy who is one of the most experienced officials on the circuit.

Tursunov said: “Just because he has been doing it for many years doesn’t mean he has been doing a good job, does it? Saddam Hussein has been in Iraq for a while but not too many people agreed with his point of view.

“For the last three matches when he was in the chair during my matches I have always had problems with him. I am not going to go into details but I think he is a very bad referee.”

Tursunov insisted he was stunned to be docked a point at such a crucial stage in the match and he had not intended for the ball he struck to clatter into the base of the umpire’s chair.

Tursunov added: “Maybe it is something personal now. He never gives an over-rule but then he gives a point penalty at 8-7. If the guy is an idiot the guy is an idiot and I am going to let him know that I feel that.

“I am sure I will be fined for anything they can possibly fine me for. But the only frustrating thing is that I had two things I got penalties for and they are going to fine me for two things.

“If he made 16 mistakes during the match he is going to go away and get the same prize money for doing his job and he is not going to get punished for anything.”