May 22, (THEWILL) – French tennis player, Hugo Gaston, has been hit with a hefty fine of €144,000 by the ATP for displaying unsportsmanlike behaviour during his match at the Madrid Open.
Gaston resorted to dropping a second ball from his pocket in an attempt to force the umpire into declaring a let, thus avoiding losing a crucial point. The incident occurred during his second-round defeat against Borna Coric last month when the Croatian was poised to deliver a winning shot.
The ATP explained that the substantial penalty takes into account Gaston’s prior warnings for similar offences. According to the ATP, Gaston has been involved in four unsportsmanlike behaviour incidents throughout the 2023 season. The 22-year-old player has lodged an appeal against the fine, which may be reduced to €72,000 if certain conditions are met.
These conditions stipulate that Gaston refrains from committing any such offences over a probationary period of 12 months. In terms of earnings, Gaston has amassed €114,218 in prize money since the commencement of the 2023 season.
Despite the controversy, Gaston has been granted a wildcard entry for the upcoming French Open set to begin on Sunday. The world number 108 will have an opportunity to showcase his skills on home soil, though his recent behaviour may cast a shadow over his performance in the tournament.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
