David Nalbandian faces police probe into assault allegation following Queen's Club kick

 
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Scotland Yard has launched a criminal probe after David Nalbandian injured a line judge during Wimbledon’s main warm-up event at Queen’s Club.

Detectives mounted an investigation after the Argentine tennis player accidentally hurt Andrew McDougall after losing a point in the final of the AEGON championships in Baron’s Court.

In a petulant action reminiscent of the sport’s original enfant terrible John McEnroe, the 30-year-old booted a wooden advertising hoarding which then smashed into the shin of Andrew McDougall, causing a deep gash and forcing tennis chiefs to disqualify Nalbandian for “unsporting behaviour”.

The Metropolitan Police today revealed it was now investigating an allegation of assault made by a member of the public.

“We are aware of an incident at the AEGON championships yesterday,” said a spokesman.

“A complaint has been made and the Metropolitan Police Service is now investigating. The allegation is of assault.”

Nalbandian’s agent told the Evening Standard that his client was still in London practising ahead of next week’s Wimbledon championships but could not be reached to respond to the police investigation. It is not clear how the probe will affect Nalbandian’s preparations for Wimbledon.

The Argentine issued a grovelling apology overnight and said he was “ashamed and sorry” for kicking out in anger.

The decision brought the tournament to an premature close and triggered unprecedented booing from thousands of confused fans – many of whom had not seen the state of McDougall’s leg.

In a live interview on court following the match, Nalbandian appeared to criticise the ATP World Tour for ending the game early and putting too much pressure from players. However he backtracked today, issuing a statement through tennis’ governing body and said he felt “ashamed and sorry for the kick that unintentionally hurt the line umpire”.

“I never intended to hit him, it was an unfortunate reaction in which I wanted to let off steam after losing a point,” said the Argentine “I had the opportunity to personally apologise to the line umpire for this regrettable act that I am fully responsible for.”

Tennis experts said the incident, which caused Croatian Marin Cilic to win the tournament by default, was the worst to befall the venerable 124-year-old club since a young McEnroe famously admonished the chairman’s wife for asking him to move off a practice court she had booked for a social game.

Nalbandian was stripped of £36,000 prize money for the runner-up and all his hard-earned ranking points. His actions are set to join the ranks of tennis’ most infamous outbursts. McEnroe himself was disqualified for swearing at an umpire at the 1990 Australian Open and Tim Henman was banned for hitting a ball at a ballgirl during Wimbledon in 1996.

Nalbandian’s agent told the Evening Standard that he would remain in London to practise ahead of Wimbledon, which starts next week.

Most fans leaving the ground after the match were angry at Nalbandian. Warren Reeves, 41, from Northwood, said: “As a tennis player myself, behaviour like that is not acceptable. I think he should be suspended for a year, including at Wimbledon.”

Flora Zwolinski, 17, a student from Oxfordshire, said: “I understand why they did it and I think it was necessary because it sets a bad example.

“They were quite expensive tickets and we had two sets wasted. I felt sorry for Cilic because he didn’t know how to act. It happened so quickly no-one could tell what happened. It looked like an accident.”

Amelia Molina, 42, a teaching assistant from Spain, now living in Kingston, said: “We thought it was frustrating they didn’t play on any more.

“People were saying ‘give us our money back’ and that the show must go on.”

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