By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday May 22, 2023
France’s Hugo Gaston has been hit with a massive fine by the ATP for an unsportsmanlike conduct violation that took place in Madrid less than a month ago.
The 108th-ranked Frenchman took a ball out of his pocket and rolled it across the court in the vain hope that he could get a let against Borna Coric, who closed out the opening set of his 6-3 6-3 second-round victory over Gaston in Madrid with a smash.
Gaston received a fine of 144,000 euros, which is greater than the $121,712 he has earned in prize money this season.
The fine will be reduced to 72,000 euros of Gaston doesn’t commit any similar offenses in the next 12 months.
Video of the offending moment can be seen below.
According to Quentin Moynet of L’équipe, it’s not the first time Gaston has committed such an offense. His transgressions in Madrid reportedly mark his fourth unsportsmanlike conduct violation in recent past, though it isn’t clear if all of the violations are of a similar nature.
According to Moynet, at least one of them was.
The good news for Gaston is that he has received a wild card into the main draw at Roland-Garros and will receive 69,000 euros for competing in the first round.