Nineteen-year-old Argentinian tennis player Luisina Giovannini has been fined $20,000 by US Open officials for retiring from her qualifying match just 17 minutes after it began. The incident occurred on August 24, during Giovannini's first-round qualifying match against Italy's Lucia Bronzetti.
Bronzetti had established a dominant 5-0 lead within the first 17 minutes of play at Flushing Meadows. Giovannini then informed the chair umpire she could not continue due to an injury. However, tournament organizers determined that her early withdrawal did not meet the expected professional standard for a Grand Slam event.
The Grand Slam Rulebook states that players are expected to perform to a professional standard in all matches. Referees have the authority to fine players up to first-round prize money if they determine a player did not perform to the required standard. Violations can result in fines of up to $50,000.
Giovannini's fine represents more than 60 percent of her prize money for reaching the last 128 of qualifying, which was $32,000. She will now receive $12,000.
In a separate disciplinary action, British player Arthur Fery was fined $5,000 for comments made to a chair umpire during his first-round match. Fery, a Wimbledon semi-finalist, forfeited a portion of his $140,000 prize money.