Tennis player cops big fine, docked ranking points after disgraceful incident

ATP Tour

Shahida Jacobs
June 1, 2023

Mikael Ymer has been hit with a triple punishment following his shameful behaviour at the Lyon Open last week – and he could still face additional penalties.

The Swede was disqualified from his round of 16 match against Arthur Fils at the ATP 250 event after he lost his cool and furiously smashed his racket against the umpire’s chair.

The incident took place in game 11 of the first set as Ymer felt a return from his French opponent was out, but there was no call from the line judge and the chair umpire didn’t overrule the call.

The 24-year-old then asked the chair official to come down to check the mark, but Rogerio Santos refused to climb down from his seat and Ymer then walked over to the official to argue his case, stating: “Yesterday I hit a serve against Gasquet, he walked over to the other side and he was still allowed to ask for a mark to be checked.

“I hit this ball, and you’re telling me you’re not even gonna come down and check the mark? I have never witnessed that a ref says: ‘I’m not gonna come down and check the mark.’ It doesn’t happen.”

The world No 56 eventually lost his temper and smashed his racket against the chair, leading to his disqualification.

The ATP has come down hard on the rising star as he has been docked his prize money of €9,980 (about £8,600) as well as the 20 ranking points he earned. He has also been handed a fine of €27,490 (£23,620).

Furthermore, the ATP Fines Committee will conduct a review of the incident to determine if any additional penalties are warranted.

Ymer was asked about the incident after his French Open opening-round defeat against Lorenzo Musetti on Sunday and replied: “With all due respect, I think it’s pretty clear from the video what caused it and why I reacted the way I reacted.

“Not justifying it at all, of course. But for me to sit here and to explain? I think it’s pretty clear what led me to that place. I think that’s pretty clear in the video.”

The likes of Nick Kyrgios, Taylor Fritz and Rohan Bopanna also stated they understood Ymer’s frustration as the official has to check the mark.

Kyrgios wrote on Instagram: “Typical umpire not doing their job correctly. All he has to do was just check the mark, regardless.”

WATCH: Rising star gets disqualified for furious attack on umpire’s chair

Mikael Ymer