John McEnroe was defaulted for poor behavior in which no one was struck, too. This is not without precedent. I'm still mulling this one over. I don't think it matters if Rublev used bad language. Did you see him screaming in the lines person's face? As I think
@kskate2 pointed out, or maybe Margaret...do you get to act like this in the workplace? Do people deserve to be so abused? It was K who pointed out that he could have challlenged the call, rather than going straight for the lines person.
Rublev has since spoken about his anger-management issues, and that it doesn't serve him. Truthfully, and poignantly, I think.
And she lost the match because of it.
Rublev was leading in that set by a break, and nearly two. He was mad at himself. Do people deserve to be abused if you're angry at yourself? I agree that it may have been an "overreach," but tennis tends to decorum. I don't actually mind that. Letter of the law, I guess the ATP had to back down. But Rublev has a lot to think about and deal with, and he seems to know it.