PARIS, June 3: The 1997 men's singles champion, Gustavo Kuerten, said in a statement issued today that he regretted hurling his racquet the previous night, an incident which led to his default in a doubles match at the French Open Grand Slam tennis tournament. At the same time, criticism started mounting against chair umpire Bruno Rebeuh, who has been involved in some incidents in the past."I am sorry for what happened and regret what I did. I tried to relieve my tension by throwing the racquet in the direction of my chair. It escaped and went towards the chair umpire. At that moment I already knew I would be disqualified," the statement said.
Officials said Kuerten will be fined $ 2,000 for being defaulted for unsportsmanlike conduct and a further $5,000 for throwing his racquet.
Kuerten, who was eliminated in the singles in the second round by Russian qualifier Marat Safin, flew back home to Brazil immediately afterwards.
There had been some controversy about line calls with chair umpire BrunoRebeuh during the match played by Kuerten and compatriot Fernando Meligeni against Patrick Rafter and Jonas Bjorkman. Kuerten then hurled his racquet after his opponents had won the first set in a tight tiebreaker 7-6 (7-5).
Rebeuh overruled line calls twice in the set, but on the final incident in the tiebreak he didn't, giving Rafter and Bjorkman the point.
After the tiebreak Kuerten fired his racquet. Senior referee Gilbert Ysern, who was called to the site, said: "Gustavo Kuerten threw his racquet at the direction of the chair umpire."
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
