PARIS –Venus Williams has been fined $3,000 by the French Open after the American tennis star skipped a mandatory post-match press conference Monday following her loss to fellow American Sloane Stephens.
(Photo: Susan Mullane, USA TODAY Sports)
A committee of Grand Slam supervisors assessed Williams, 34, the fine, an International Tennis Federation representative confirmed to USA TODAY Sports on Wednesday morning.
It’s the second such fine that Williams has received in her career. In 2010, she and sister Serena were fined $4,000 each at Wimbledon for not showing up to a press conference after a defeat in doubles.
Venus Williams lost on Monday evening to Stephens 7-6(5), 6-1, marking her second first-round exit at the French Open in three years. The No. 15 seed, Williams hasn’t made the quarterfinals since 2006. She finished the clay season 2-3 overall and received a €24,000 for the loss.
Williams was not announced for press a full hour after her match (including after Stephens had come and gone) Monday evening. Reporters were then informed that she had opted to skip her press conference, the American having been alerted by officials that she could face a fine.
In a written statement, Venus Williams expressed her disappointment Monday evening after the loss.
When you arrive at any tournament you hope you will have a chance to work your way into the event, but I didn’t have that opportunity, the statement said. She just played better than me today.
Williams is not scheduled to play another tournament until Wimbledon, which begins on June 29.
Records provided by the International Tennis Federation show that fines for players who have skipped press conferences have been as high as $10,000, though most players who have committed such an offense at a Grand Slam have been fined $2,000-$5,000.
Since 1990, 17 fines have been issued at the Grand Slams. Roland Garros has a history of fining players the most of any of the four majors. Both Andre Agassi (in 2000) and Marat Safin (2001) earned fines of $10,000 at this event.
Other tennis players who have been fined by Grand Slams for not showing up for media obligations: Victoria Azarenka (French Open 2010; $4,000) Mats Wilander, Gorann Ivenisevic and Yevgeny Kafelnikov.