Agassi cries foul after bad language expulsion

JOHN McENROE admitted recently that if he had been defaulted during his infamous televised argument at, Wimbledon it would probably done him the world of good and changed his attitude on court completely.

Perhaps Mark Darby, the ATP Tour supervisor, had the well being of Andre Agassi at heart when he threw the American out of the RCA championship in Indianapolis on Wednesday.

Agassi has frequently been warned for bad language on court, including his first round match during the recent Olympic Games tournament at Stone Mountain, Atlanta.

The American's foul language is usually perfectly clear to those sitting at his end of the court; it was particularly obnoxious during the Olympics, with a large, number of children at courtside, but once again,the authorities did nothing about it.

Agassi was leading the Canadian Daniel Nestor 6-1, 2-3 in a second round match on Wednesday when, having just lost his serve, he hit the ball angrily over the umpire's chair and out of the stadium.

The umpire, Dana Loconto, gave Agassi a warning for ball abuse. Agassi then swore and Laconto called Darby who defaulted Agassi.

The crowd booed, hissed, and threw objects including water bottles onto the court when the umpire called the match in Nestor's favour and Laconto and Darby left the court to jeers from the crowd.

"It's a call made by a guy who shouldn't be in this business, Agassi said of Darby. "In my experience this incident went over the line," said Darby. "This goes straight by the rulebooks."

Agassi, who had never been, de faulted before, said the decision was unjust because the normal road to default warning. point penalty, and default was not followed.

"I will take responsibility for getting a warning and I will take the responsibilities for getting upset on the court like I have done a thousand times. sometimes." Agassi said. But I will not accept this decision. It was a wrong decision."

Tournament officials, who obviously did not want to lose Agassi. apparently implored Darby to change his mind. Darby, a former player who has been with the ATP Tour since its inception in 1990, would not relent.

In my experience this is the first time that I have been at a tournament that a player has said, that statement directly at the chair," Darby said. "That statement goes over the edge as far as the code is concerned. It is one that can go straight into default."

After the default Agassi sat at court side for a considerable time, as did Nestor. Finally Agassi walked over to Nestor and shook his band.

While walking off the court Agassi kicked an empty ball can aside with his foot.

Prior to winning his Olympic gold medal Agassi had been knocked out in the first week of both the French Open and Wimbledon, with his world ranking dropping from three to seven.

Since Atlanta he had won the GMI tournament at Cincinnati, and put together a run of 12 matches without defeat.

. Chris Barkla, a resilient Australian player, claimed a semifinal place in dramatic circumstances by beating Dubliner Joe Green in the East of Ireland championships at the Lansdowne club last evening.

Green looked to be very much a winner.when, after clinching the second set on the 22nd point of the tie break, he led 5-2 in the final set.

Barkla, a very committed player, contrived to change the whole tenor of the match subsequently and fairly overwhelmed Green to finish a three hour long marathon very much on top.

Barkla though was winning the dubious distinction of having to face Omah Rashid, the Pakistan Davis Cup player and top seed, in this evening's semi finals.

Yvonne Doyle, the US based top seed, takes on Emma Doyle with Claire Curran going on against Loretta Sheales of Australia in two promising women's semi finals.