Rublev throws a tantrum

RUSSIAN hothead Andrey Rublev lost his cool spectacularly as he crashed out of the French Open.

The sixth seed had a heated argument with umpire Lazemar Engzell over the mark left by a disputed line call during the second set of his thirdround clash with Matteo Arnaldi.

Rublev promptly dropped serve and exploded with rage, smashing his racket to the ground and screaming towards his players’ box.

At the changeover the 26-year-old repeatedly kicked his seat, leaving large dents in it.

In the third set Rublev, by now on the verge of tears, began furiously hitting his own knee with his racket.

Rublev usually saves his meltdowns for the quarter-finals, having never got past one at a grand slam.

But this was an even earlier exit for the world number six as he slumped to a 7-6 (6) 6-2 6-4 defeat to 23-year-old Italian Arnaldi. “Completely disappointed with myself the way I behaved, the way I performed, and I don’t remember behaving worse on a slams ever,” said Rublev. “I think it was first time I ever behaved that bad.

“I think it’s because the way I behave I put myself completely down, and I give Matteo wings to fly, and he was flying in the third set unbelievable.”

There was more joy for Italy when second seed Jannik Sinner eased through.

The 22-year-old Australian Open champion took his grand slam winning streak to 10 matches with a 6-4 6-4 6-4 victory over another Russian, Pavel Kotov.

Sinner, who was struggling with a hip injury prior to Roland Garros, said: “Tennis-wise I felt quite good on the court.”

Andrey Rublev.