Hugo Gaston, a French tennis player, has been fined $156,000 by the ATP for his unsportsmanlike conduct in a match against Borna Coric last month in the Madrid Open. During the game, Gaston dropped a second ball from his pocket to force the umpire to play a let when Coric was about to make a winning smash.
The ATP imposed the huge fine because Gaston had been cautioned earlier about this kind of behavior. According to the ATP, this was the fourth time this season that the 22-year-old player had behaved in this reprehensible way.
Gaston has contested the fine, which may be halved to €72,000 if certain conditions are met, such as a probationary period of a year without the player committing another such offense, the ATP reported. Since the beginning of the 2023 season, Gaston has earned €114,218 in prize money.
Despite his unsportsmanlike behavior, Gaston has received a wildcard for the upcoming French Open which will begin next Sunday. Currently, he is ranked 108th in the world.