You cannot be serious – bad behaviour fines soar

THIS year’s Wimbledon has seem some of the worst behaviour by players in recent years, with fines imposed during the championships piling up.

Tournament officials yesterday handed out the second highest recorded penalty in Wimbledon history, an £11,500 fine on Bernard Tomic for “unsportsmanlike conduct”.

It came after the Australian admitted in a post-match interview that he had faked an injury during his straightset loss to Germany’s Mischa Zverev, and that he was “bored” with Wimbledon.

Daniil Medvedev was handed three fines totalling £11,200 – the third highest amount since records began in 1991 – for unsportsmanlike conduct after he threw coins at the umpire’s chair on Wednesday. He was fined £3,100 as a warning for insulting the Portuguese umpire, Mariana Alvez; £2,300 again for insulting her and £5,800 for tossing coins at her chair.

In just the first three days, a total of £25,900 in penalties has been handed out for unsportsmanlike conduct. That compares with the total of £70,700 during last year’s tournament.

It comes as Andy Murray weighed into the row over players withdrawing from their first-round games at Wimbledon and still picking up prize money.

The Wimbledon champion said he hopes authorities intervene to stop the practice. Speaking on Wednesday, Murray said: “It’s really not positive for the tour. Well, for tennis. Hopefully they will make some changes and avoid more situations like that.”