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• During an ATP Masters tournament tennis match against Spain's Nicolas Almagro in Miami, Florida, on March 31, 2008, Russian tennis star Mikhail Youzhny smashed himself in the head with his own racquet after returning a ball into the net. After he began bleeding from the self-inflicted wound, his trainer stitched up his head, and Youzhny returned to the court and won the match. Controversy surrounded the Russian tennis star during the 2007 Davis Cup tournament when German player Tommy Haas became ill and had to withdraw from a doubles match against Youzhny. Haas called for an investigation, saying he may have been poisoned in an effort to prevent him from playing. The Russian tennis federation called Haas's claims "fantasy."

• Fast Facts:

  1. Sportscasters commented immediately afterwards that Youzhny's action was very "Van Gogh-like"
  2. After each win, Youzhny gives the crowd a military salute with his racquet
  3. Irony: Youzhny uses a racquet made by the sports equipment company Head
  4. Racquet model used at ATP Masters: Head Microgel Extreme Pro
  5. Reached the Semifinals of the U.S. Open in 2006
  6. Reached the Quarterfinals of the Australian Open in 2008
  7. Youzhny won the match 7-6(4), 3-6, 7-6(6)

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Mikhail Youzhny | Tommy Haas | U.S. Open | Australian Open | Davis Cup | French Open (tennis) | Wimbledon | Adidas

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