Tennis: World number four Nikolay Davydenko was involved in yet more controversy today at the Paris Masters as he collapsed to defeat to Marcos Baghdatis.
During the second set of his 6-2 6-2 defeat, the Russian became engaged in a conversation with umpire Cedric Mourier during which he was told he had served "too many" double faults; he ended with 10.
When Davydenko asked: "What can I do?'', Mourier replied: "Serve like me.''
The conversation ended with the umpire telling the player: "Try your best, Nikolay".
That comment is sure to be focused upon given it comes just a week after Davydenko was fined by the ATP for a "lack of effort" during his defeat to Marin Cilic at the St Petersburg Open.
Davydenko, who had been the defending champion in Paris, is also at the centre of an ATP investigation concerning one of his matches in August which produced suspicious betting patterns on the betting exchange Betfair.
Sky Sports pundit Peter Fleming felt the treatment of Davydenko by Mourier was unjustified.
"I don't think he had any right to go anywhere close to where he did. He certainly was trying his hardest today, he was just having a serving meltdown really."
Baghdatis' win keeps his outside hopes of reaching the season-ending Masters Cup alive. He must now win in Paris to stand any chance of making the prestigious Shanghai event.
The Cypriot will face Tommy Robredo in Friday's quarter-finals after the Spaniard kept his Masters Cup bid on track with a 7-5 7-5 victory over Guillermo Canas.
Canas' defeat means he can no longer make it to Shanghai and it is a similar story for Tomas Berdych following his 6-4 6-2 loss to David Ferrer.
However, Richard Gasquet kept his hopes alive - by ending those of last year's Shanghai runner-up James Blake.
The French number on won their match 6-4 6-4 and will now face British number one Andy Murray for a place in the semi-finals.
In other action on Thursday, second seed Rafael Nadal moved into the last eight with a 6-4 6-3 victory over Stanislas Wawrinka.
Nadal's Swiss opponent pressed hard in the first set but could take only one of eight break points, whereas the clincal Nadal converted both of his.
The second set was easier for Nadal who will next face either Tommy Haas or Mikhail Youzhny.