Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has lashed out at Wimbledon officials for hitting Bernard Tomic with one of the biggest fines in tennis history.
Tomic was docked STG45,000 ($80,460) for not giving his best efforts during his 6-2 6-1 6-4 first-round loss to Tsonga in a heavy-handed ruling that fellow Australian Nick Kyrgios branded “outrageous”.
The 58-minute cameo was the shortest men’s singles match at the All England Club in 15 years, with the fine representing Tomic’s entire first-round prize money.
“All players are expected to perform to a professional standard in every grand slam match,” a statement from the club said.
“With respect to first round performance, if in the opinion of the referee the player did not perform to the required professional standard, the referee may determine that the player be subject to a fine of up to first round prize money.”
Having denied not trying, Tomic is expected to appeal – and Tsonga doesn’t blame him.
Tsonga said his opponent had “of course” fallen victim to his reputation, having been fined in the past for questionable performances.
“That’s touchy because they will do that with him and not with others, and I think it’s a little bit too much,” Tsonga said.
A former Australian Open runner-up and five-times grand slam semi-finalist who has twice reached the last four at Wimbledon, Tsonga also believes the fine discredits his victory, during which he hammered 21 aces in 12 service games.
“I will say it’s also, for me, it’s like what I did was not win,” Tsonga said.
“It’s like me was just here and I just won because they said he didn’t play enough.”
Tomic said “next question” when asked if he’d given his best efforts during the match.
“I think I played as best as I could. It’s just I played terrible. And he served 24 aces or…,” he said.
Kyrgios said he didn’t agree with “fining the guy all of his prize money”.
“He earned his right to be in the draw. He played the whole year. He’s obviously winning enough to be at the most prestigious tournament in the world. To take all his prize money I think is outrageous,” he said.
“I just hope Bernard is all right.”
John Millman also weighed in, saying his countryman deserved the benefit of the doubt and that it was difficult to prove a player wasn’t trying.
“Bernard, at times, when you look at him play – and I played him in Estoril – he’s not the most intense player,” Millman said.
“We’re kind of polar opposites. Some people probably say I’m kind of over-intense on court.
“And some people function better when they actually keep a bit of a low intensity.
“I’m not sure of the ins and outs – what I will say is that I think it’s really hard to gauge, to make a judgement call like that.”
Two years ago, Tomic was fined more than $20,000 and dumped by his racquet sponsor after admitting he was “a little bored” and feigned injury during a similarly meek first-round Wimbledon loss to Mischa Zverev.
Officials were trying to determine if Tomic’s fine was the biggest ever handed out.
Former women’s world No.50 Anna Tatishvili was fined STG41,000 for performing “below professional standards” in her first-round match at this year’s French Open.
Tatishvili lost 6-0 6-1 to Maria Sakkari in 55 minutes, but has appealed the sanction, claiming the fine was “unfair and discriminatory”.
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
This fine is well deserved imo and maybe will restrain Tomic in future from attempting to steal money from tournament sponsors. Tomic is a total disgrace and in clearly not trying and being happy to lose he is effectively stealing his 1st round fees. So this trip to London cost him a good amount of $$ and hopefully he'll never return. More hopefully, he'll retire asap and stop bringing Australia into disrepute.
PeteB
Roar Rookie
Why is this guy even invited or allowed to play in major tennis tournaments ? Been a blight on the game for years. Anyone who just gives up like he does in matches should not be allowed back.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Bernie will always be remembered for his response to a journalist "I just go home & count my money". No extra dollars for you to count this week buddy.
clipper
Roar Rookie
He's always had a languid manner when he plays, but from the press conference you could tell he didn't give a fig. It would be tough to give it all throughout the year, but at this level, you are getting paid well and are expected to provide a service for the money you're getting paid. Perhaps they should've slashed a few points off as well.
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
Hi Chris, His style is a consideration but there is an "air" about effort that is tangible. I liken this to David Gower, effortless shot maker but ran well between the wickets. It is not the tennis authority's responsibility but sadly I feel this fine will do little to help Tomic anyway. I suspect his demons may well require some off the court support, which he doesn't seem to have, or at least wish to seek out.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I didn't watch the match, and I get the idea of the fine - the whole reason you can earn that sort of money is because people are paying good money to watch you play tennis, so to go out there and not even compete and try to win is not okay, so it's effectively saying that to earn that money you should be trying to compete in the match", but there is also the danger that you are fining players based on styles. It's like how some cricketers just look so free and easy and relaxed when they play, but that means when they get out it so often looks like a lazy shot, and they get more criticism. I suppose it is possible that the languid way Tomic moves around the court and the way he plays, which doesn't involve hitting every ball as hard as possible with as much topspin as possible, but often playing shots in ways that just look like 'lazy' shots, can mean that if he's in a match where he's getting smashed it can probably just look like he's not trying to win simply because of style. It's certainly a tough one. They are effectively fining him based on assumptions of his thought processes, which they can't actually know. But Tomic really needs to either decide he's going to get a good coach and work hard to be the best he can be, or just quit. Kyrios is in the same boat. Tennis isn't really something you can half-heartedly do as a career. It has to be all or nothing.