Britain's Greg Rusedski received very little in the way of either sympathy or support in yesterday's newspapers after his furious outburst of foul language during a Wimbledon loss to Andy Roddick.
Television viewers witnessed Rusedski's outrage in Wednesday's 7-6, 7-6, 7-5 defeat after the umpire had failed to replay a point when a spectator made a line call and despite his subsequent apology, the media has condemned his actions.
"Crudedski" screamed the headline on the back page of the Daily Mirror adding that the player's four-etter tirade had dragged Wimbledon into the gutter.
Admonishing the behavior, the paper's chief sports writer Oliver Holt went on to note that it was not the first time Rusedski had been made to look foolish by some ill-judged comments.
"The way Rusedski tossed away his second round match was more suited to a 13-year-old on junior club night than a supposedly top pro on Center Court," he wrote.
"The problem with Rusedski is he's got previous form when things do not go the way he wants them to. After he lost to Pete Sampras in the US Open last year he said the greatest player men's tennis has ever seen was washed up. Unfortunately, Sampras went on to prove to be so washed up he actually won the tournament."
The Sun led its coverage with an article headlined "Sad Greg Blue It" adding, "Foul-mouth Rusedski goes berserk as hot Rodd sends the red-faced Brit packing."
"Rusedski had come into the match saying he had nothing to lose. 'I'm going out there to have fun,' he promised. Well, in a way it was funny. Actually, it was quite hilarious. But not, I expect for Greg," the paper noted.
Under headlines such as "Rudedski," "Greg's Shame" and "Crying Foul" a majority of the articles slammed the outburst as an embarrassing low point of the tournament so far.
The Telegraph's Paul Hayward said Rusedski's behavior just whitewashed over another sorry display by home-based players.
"On his way to an especially abject defeat on Center Court, Greg Rusedski let rip at the umpire with a tirade that made the John McEnroe of old sound like a cub scout.
The Times appeared to be the only newspaper prepared to offer any sort of sympathy for Rusedski.
"In the end, the match was about Rusedski's furious and passionate embracing of defeat." it said. "He has worked through nine months of surgery, pain and rehab with this tournament in mind, knowing that, at his rare best, he has a game to win here. And in a few minutes of mindless fury, he chucked it away. Alas, poor Greg."
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