David Nalbandian To Skip Queen’s This Year

Written by: Staff on 3rd May 2013

David Nalbandian To Skip Queen’s This Year

epa03617138 David Nalbandian of Argentina in action against Jerzy Janowicz of Poland during the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California, USA, 09 March 2013. EPA/MICHAEL NELSON |

David Nalbandian caused one of the most controversial moments in tennis last year when he was defaulted from the final of the AEGON Championships at London’s Queens Club.

He vented his anger by kicking an advertising board and which injured a line judge who was left with blood pouring down his leg. Now the veteran Argentine has opted against requesting a place amongst the list of wild cards for this year’s event.

Nalbandian’s ranking currently stands a lowly world no.129, which means the 31-year-old doesn’t warrant automatic entry to the tournament. Tournament director Chris Kermode insists the one-time world no.3 and Wimbledon finalist has been forgiven for the tempestuous incident, and was initially led to believe there was every chance of a return this year to underline his contrition.

“If he had made a request then it would have been given serious consideration because Nalbandian remains a marquee player with a good grass court pedigree but as nothing was forthcoming, we just have to assume he doesn’t want to come back to Queen’s,” said Kermode.

The incident was the subject of a police investigation while Nalbandian lost more than £40,000 in fines and forfeited prize money. The title was handed to Croatia’s Marin Cilic who had lost the first set in a tiebreak and was leading 4-3 on serve in the second when the incident occurred.

This year Nalbandian missed the Australian Open after declaring himself insufficiently fit after a long standing chest injury late in 2012. Aside from reaching the final in Sao Paolo, losing out to Rafael Nadal, he has failed to progress beyond the second round in four subsequent tournaments and has not played on the ATP World Tour since the Sony Open in Miami six weeks ago.

However early April saw him in Davis Cup doubles action for Argentina against France and alongside Horacio Zeballos, his presence was crucial in the 3-6, 7-6, 7-5, 6-3 win over Julien Benneteau and Michael Llodra after a remarkable comeback from 5-2 down in the third set.

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: AEGON Championships, Atp, British tennis news, David Nalbandian, London’s Queens Club, Marin Cilic