Muster Set To Argue Case

Thomas Muster, who stomped off the court during a Davis Cup match with Brazil and called the fans “animals,” will go to London next week to argue his case before the International Tennis Federation.

Muster, the world’s No. 3 player, will be joined by his coach and Austrian teammates and officials.

“We are preparing to fight,” Christian Ransmayr, vice president of the Austrian Tennis Federation, told The Associated Press.

Muster left the court when he and his doubles partner trailed 0-2, 15-30 in the fifth set last weekend in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The Austrian complained that fans had cursed and spit at him. He said they threw things at him and blinded him with a mirror. He contended security was insufficient for him to continue playing.

The Austrians forfeited the match and the series when they refused to play the remaining two singles, losing 4-1.

Muster and his coach Ronald Leitgeb will be among Austrians appearing before the four-man ITF committee case Oct. 7.

Muster has already been fined about $8,000 by the ITF for leaving the court and making an obscene gesture. Austria has appealed that decision.