Nalbandian disqualified from Queen's final

David Nalbandian was disqualified from the final at the Queen's Club after he kicked an advertising board which struck a line judge

David Nalbandian has been disqualified from the Aegon Championships tennis final at the Queen’s Club after the frustrated Argentine kicked an advertising board and injured a line judge.

Nalbandian won the first set on a tie-break but reacted angrily after being broken for the second time in the second set.

Having just lost the seventh game Nalbandian fiercely kicked an advertising board in front of line judge Andrew McDougall's chair.

The board smacked into the line judge's shin and a caused an inch-long bloody gash.

Referee Fergus Murphy then awarded Cilic the match, and the championship, disqualifying Nalbandian for “unsportsmanlike behaviour.”

Nalbandian was apologetic for his actions, going over to McDougall but following consultation with ATP supervisor Tom Barnes, the match was abandoned.

The crowd booed and chanted “play on”, but the decision was final and Cilic was handed the crown.

Tournament official Chris Kermode told BBC1: "We're in the middle of a wonderful final and David Nalbandian ran across and in frustration kicked a panel underneath the linejudge.

"The panel went into his leg and cut it - he's quite seriously injured. The game has ended with a code violation.

"David is struggling to come to terms with it. He clearly regrets what happened - but these things happen.

"It's sold out and they are watching some great tennis, so to have the match end this way is quite disappointing.

"But there's not a lot we can do about it. We are under the governance of ATP rules.

"The official has been taken up to the medical centre. I've not had a chance to see how he's doing. It was a pure accident.

"You'd like to think you can bend the rules but if you allow it (the game to continue) it sets a precedent. If you start changing the rules you have to be very clear."