Tennis

Nalbandian to appeal Aussie Open fine

Published Jan. 20, 2012 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

David Nalbandian angrily denied Saturday that he threw water at an Australian Open official and vowed to appeal against an $8,000 fine imposed following his stormy exit from the tournament.

Nalbandian endured a roller-coaster 4-6, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6, 10-8 loss to American John Isner on Wednesday and he was incensed when the chair umpire refused to allow a key ruling challenge at the climax of the marathon.

The Argentinian was holding a break point at 8-8 in the deciding set when he was told he was "too late" to request a challenge, after the umpire overruled a fault call.

He argued on court for several minutes with the umpire, who he later accused of incompetency. And he was slapped with the hefty fine by organizers who accused of him of hurling water at a tournament worker.

But Nalbandian said he was simply washing his hands when a doctor "incredibly" accused him of splashing water at him during a drug test.

"I fully deny throwing water after the match I played against Isner," he tweeted. "During anti-doping control, I was washing my hands and the doctor incredibly accused to me of throwing water at him.

"Two injustices: one inside and another one outside the court. I am going to appeal the sanction."

A tournament official said Nalbandian had up to 10 days after the tournament to lodge an appeal against the fine, which is by far the highest handed out at this Australian Open so far.

It was announced after Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis was docked $1,250 for smashing four rackets in less than a minute in a sensational tantrum which quickly went viral on the internet.

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