Fabio Fognini’s first-round outburst has ended his US Open.
Fognini was hit with a provisional suspension from the Flushing Meadows major today following a series of fines incurred after he blew up and spewed sexual insults at Swedish chair umpire Louise Engzell.
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The suspension knocks Fognini and Italian partner Simone Bolelli, the former Australian Open champions, out of the US Open doubles. The pair had reached the third round after a 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 victory over 10th seeds Rohan Bopanna and Pablo Cuevas.
The 26th-ranked Italian erupted during his 6-4, 7-6 (8), 3-6, 6-0 opening-round singles loss to compatriot Stefano Travaglia and repeated insulting language at Engzell, which was picked up by on-court microphones.
Fognini was hit with three separate unsportsmanlike conduct fines by the US Open, incurring a total fine of $24,000 and bounced for his bad behavior.
That outburst could lead to further sanctions.
If Fognini is found to have committed a major offense under the Grand Slam code of conduct he could face a maximum fine of up to $250,000 and/or suffer suspensions from future Grand Slam tournaments.
Fognini took to twitter to issue an apology on Thursday calling his meltdown "a very bad day."
"First of all I would like to apologize to you fans, to the referee for what happened," Fognini wrote. "It was just a very bad day, but it did not forgive my behavior in the match.
"Although I’m a hot-head—and though I’ve been right in most circumstances—I was wrong. But in the end it’s only a tennis game.”
“Fabio Fognini is hereby provisionally suspended from further participation in the US Open pending a final determination whether a major offense has been committed during his first-round singles match,” the Grand Slam board announced in a statement. “The provisional suspension is with immediate effect, and, therefor, Mr. Fognini has been withdraw from his upcoming doubles match.”
Photo credit: Fabio Fognini Instagram