French tennis player Hugo Gaston was fined 1,44,000 euros (about $1,55,000) by the ATP Tour — more than he's collected in prize money so far in 2023 — for pulling a ball out of his pocket and throwing it on the court during a point in an attempt to get a do-over, his fourth unsportsmanlike conduct violation this season.
The tour announced its ruling on Monday, saying that Gaston's appeal of the punishment got it reduced by half, to 72,000 euros (about $77,500), as long as he meets certain conditions, including no additional violations during a probationary period of a year.
The ATP said unsportsmanlike conduct fines “increase by 100% with each consecutive violation in the same season.” Gaston has made a little more than $1,20,000 in prize money this year while going 2-5 on tour. He is a 22-year-old left-hander who has been ranked as high as 58th and is currently 108th.
