accused of anti-gaming, Hugo Gaston is fined 144,000 dollars

2023-05-22 15:59:00

The French tennis player was fined $144,000 for “unsportsmanlike conduct” during a match at the Masters 1000 in Madrid.

By MR with AFP

The tennis player is accused of having deliberately dropped a second ball on the court during an exchange he was going to lose against Croatian Borna Coric, in order to force the referee to replay the point.
© MATTHIEU MIRVILLE / Matthieu Mirville / DPPI via AFP

Published on 05/22/2023 at 3:59 p.m.

Uan attitude with onerous consequences. Hugo Gaston is accused of “unsportsmanlike conduct” during his second round match at the Masters 1000 in Madrid. As a result, the French player was fined 144,000 euros, ATP said.

The tennis player (ex-58^e worldwide down to 108^e rank this week) is indeed accused of having deliberately dropped a second ball on the court during an exchange that he was going to lose against the Croatian Borna Coric (loss 6-3, 6-3) on April 28, in order to to force the referee to replay the point. The particularly high level of the fine is explained by the reiteration of such behavior, specifies the body which manages the male professional circuit.

Precedents of offense

“Under ATP rules since 2023, fines for unsportsmanlike behavior increase by 100% for each violation within a single season. This was Hugo Gaston’s fourth unsportsmanlike behavior offense during the 2023 season. However, the player appealed and the fine “will be reduced to 72,000 euros under certain conditions, in particular that Hugo Gaston no longer commits such an offense over a probationary period of twelve months”, adds the authority.

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Since the start of the 2023 season, Hugo Gaston (22) has earned 114,218 euros. Recipient of an invitation to play the first round of the main draw at Roland-Garros (May 28-June 11), he is guaranteed to earn at least another 69,000 euros (promised to the losers of the first round).