French tennis player cops massive £125,000 fine for repeat offences

French tennis player cops massive £125,000 fine for repeat unsportsmanlike offences

Shahida Jacobs
Hugo Gaston looking back
Hugo Gaston during a match

World No 108 Hugo Gaston has copped an incredible €144,000 fine (roughly £125,000) from the ATP for several unsportsmanlike conduct violations this season.

The €144K penalty is more than the Frenchman has earned so far in 2023 as his total prize money is just over $120,000 (about €111,000/£97,000).

The strong punishment from the sport’s governing body came on the back of his latest offence at the Madrid Open in April when he suffered a 6-3, 6-3 defeat at the hands of Borna Coric during the second round of the ATP Masters 1000 tournament.

The Frenchman, who reached a career-high of No 58 in the ATP Rankings last year, dropped a spare ball from his pocket on the court while his opponent was about to hit a winner in an attempt to get the umpire to call let, which would have resulted in the point being replayed as it is deemed an interference with play.

It was Gaston’s fourth example of unsportsmanlike violation in 2023 and the powers that be opted to come down hard on as he had been warned by the ATP after previous offences.

A statement from the ATP read: “Per ATP Rules in effect from 2023, fines related to unsportsmanlike conduct increase by 100% with each consecutive violation in the same season.

“This was Gaston’s fourth violation for unsportsmanlike conduct in the 2023 season.”

The 22-year-old has appealed against the fine and it could be reduced by 50% to €72,000 (£62,000) if successful with the statement from the ATP adding that it is “subject to certain conditions, including no further such violations incurred by Gaston over a 12-month probationary period”.

Gaston, though, will have an opportunity to boost his prize money earnings at Roland Garros next week as he has been handed a wildcard entry into the main draw.

Players earn €69,000 (£60,000) for a first-round appearance at the clay-court Grand Slam and last year Gaston reached the third round, which is worth €142,000 (£123,000) this year, as he upset 19th seed Alex de Minaur in the first round.

His best run at the French Open came on his main draw debut in 2020 when he reached the fourth round after stunning former champion Stan Wawrinka in five sets in the third round.

Since the Madrid Open incident, Gaston competed in three ATP Challenger Tour events, losing in the first round of the Prague Open, the quarter-final of the Upper Austria Open Mauthausen and the opening round of the Open de Oeiras II.

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