Repeat offender Hugo Gaston receives a mega penalty
Hugo Gaston was sentenced to a heavy fine by the ATP this year after several unsportsmanlike actions.
by Nikolaus Fink
last edit: May 22, 2023, 09:07 pm
Juicy fine for Hugo Gaston: The Frenchman has to pay a fine of 144,000 euros for several unsportsmanlike misconducts this season. If the 22-year-old does not commit any further offenses in the next twelve months, the fine will be reduced to 72,000 euros. The ATP announced this on Monday.
The penalty was triggered by a misstep at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Madrid: In his second round match against Borna Coric, the Frenchman threw a second ball out of his pocket onto the court in a hopeless position during a rally and wanted to evoke a repeat of the point . Incidentally, Gaston's action was not crowned with "success".
It was not the first time that Gaston made negative headlines in Madrid. Overall, the current world number 108 made it. four misdemeanors in the 2023 calendar year. This is also the main reason why the ATP imposed such a high penalty. Because before the start of this season, the men's organization sharpened their penalty catalogue.
Gaston has earned around 114,000 euros in prize money so far this season. After all, the 22-year-old can soon look forward to monetary growth: At the French Open, for which the local hero received a main field wildcard from the organizers, Gaston would already earn 69,000 euros in a first round.