2018 General Tennis News

Peter Gojowczyk Fined €25,000 For ‘Poor Performance’ At The French Open

The German No.3 finds himself in trouble with officials at Roland Garros following his first round exit.


Adam Addicott | UBITENNIS
31 May 2018



Peter Gojowczyk (zimbio.com)


World No.43 Peter Gojowczyk failed to perform at the ‘required professional standard’ in his first round match at the French Open, according to the tournament referee.

The German has been fined 25,000 euros following his retirement in his first round match at Roland Garros. Gojowczyk was taking on Great Britain’s Cameron Norrie, but retired whilst trailing 1-6, 0-2, after 41 minutes of action. He said that his hip/groin area started to hurt during the first set.

Despite the seeming straightforward retirement, officials have stated that Gojowczyk should have instead withdrawn from his first round match in order for a lucky loser to step in. The 28-year-old came into the Grand Slam straight from the Geneva Open, where he reached the final of the tournament.

In recent months the Grand Slam Board have been working to address the problem of players deliberately playing in major tournaments despite being injured. Those ranked lower in the rankings, do so for the prize money.
At the start of this year, a new policy came into place. Lucky losers and players who withdraw prior to the tournament will now split the first round prize money. This year a total of eight players entered the draw as a lucky loser. Including Argentina’s Marco Trungelliti, who drove from Barcelona to Paris the day before his first match to play in the tournament.

“Any player who competes in the first round main draw singles and retires or performs below professional standards, may now be subject to a fine up to (the equivalent) first round prize money in 2018.” The new rule states.

Gojowczyk’s fine equates to 62.5% of the money he earned for playing in the first round at Roland Garros this year. Losers in the first round exit with 40,000 euros in their pockets.

It is not the first time this year a player has been fined for a poor performance in a major. At the Australian Open in January, Mischa Zverev was docked $45,000 for his performance against Hyeon Chung.

Andy Murray confident of Wimbledon chances but names
Roger Federer as favourite

George Bellshaw | metro.co.uk
Tuesday 5 Jun 2018 - 11:45 am



Will Murray make it to Wimbledon? (Picture: PA)


Andy Murray is ‘getting closer’ to making a return to competitive tennis action, having spent nearly a year on the sidelines with a hip injury.

The three-time Grand Slam champion limped out of last year’s Wimbledon quarter-finals and hasn’t been seen on the ATP Tour since.

He attempted to make a comeback at the beginning of 2018 but suffered a setback and went under the knife, with the grass-court season always a target for his return.

There had been much speculation over his participation at Wimbledon but the two-time winner remains confident that he will make it.

He told Jaguar: ‘It’s been very slow, I’ve been out getting close to a year now – which is a lot longer than me or any of my team were expecting in the beginning but I’m getting closer to playing again.



Murray views Federer as the favourite (Picture: USA TODAY Sports)


‘I started training a few days ago and I’m hoping to make my comeback in the grass-court season.’  

Discussing the tournament itself, he admitted he expects Roger Federer to defend his title and win a ninth crown at the All England Club.

‘I’m hoping I’ll be there but Roger Federer has obviously got a phenomenal record on grass – I think he’s won there seven times at Wimbledon so he’ll definitely be up there as one of the favourites,’ he added.

‘You never know, it depends a little bit on the draw.’

The Scot, whose ranking is set to drop outside the world’s top-150 the next time the ATP leaderboard is released, is due to compete in warm-up events in Rosmalen – which begins next week – and at Queen’s but it remains to be seen exactly when he will return to court.

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Edit - Tuesday 5 Jun 2018 10:17 pm :

Andy Murray has made the unsurprising move to withdraw from a Wimbledon warm-up event the Libema Open in s-Hertogenbosch as he continues to step up his recovery from a hip injury.

The former world No. 1 had outlined his hopes to compete at the All England Club later this year earlier on Tuesday, but having just returned to practice, it seemed far-fetched that he would be fit enough to compete in Rosmalen. And he confirmed he had ditched his plans to play in the Netherlands.

‘It is with regret that I won’t be able to play,’ he said.


Read more here: Andy Murray withdraws from Wimbledon warm-up event