Forgot all about this... Classic

By CHARLIE WYETT

Published: 21 Jun 2008

MIKHAIL YOUZHNY wants the Wimbledon docs on stand-by — in case he suffers another rush of blood to the head.

The Russian stunned the tennis world when he smashed his racket against his head THREE TIMES after missing a routine shot — causing the claret to gush down his face.

The world No17 needed treatment on court during his match against Nicolas Almagro in the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami.

Youzhny is now preparing for the first round at the All England Club despite injuring his neck in two places in a freak accident while exercising.

And the Moscow-based fruitcake refuses to rule out a repeat of those madcap antics if he gets stressed during a match.

He said: “When I was a kid I had big problems with my behaviour. It is common among players. One guy who coached me says the older Youzhny is fine but the younger brother Mikhail was crazy.

“I broke rackets and I cried. I’d then shout at my family during matches. Growing older, I changed.

“However, I don’t really like this tournament in Miami. I have never felt comfortable in this tournament. I don’t tend to win matches there.

“I don’t know why. I feel something bad — there is too much negativity around there.

“Before the match I felt negative, during the match I felt negative and after the match I felt negative. I was suffering inside.

“I tried to do my best but I was making so many mistakes. I had break point on his serve, missed the chance and hit the frame against my head a little bit. Three times.”

Laughing about the April incident, he added: “It’s not something I had done before.”

Asked if he’d do it here, he said: “When you watch football and your team is losing, you get the phone and throw it against the wall.

“Some people say they won’t do it again but they watch another match and they do the same thing. It is all about emotions but it is not something I plan to do all the time. But, I can’t say I won’t do it.

“Thankfully in Miami, there was a physio very near. At first I didn’t feel the blood but then I realised I had to go to my chair.

“After that, I felt I had released all the negativity. I won the match.”

Youzhny, 26 on Wednesday, plays Argie Sergio Roitman first up.

The Russian started the year impressively, thrashing Rafael Nadal 6-0 6-1 in India and then reached the Australian Open quarter-finals.

But he has since struggled with his freak injury. He said: “I hurt it while exercising. It restricts me when I raise my arms but I can play.”

SOURCE: The Sun