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Under the Rules and Regulations of Tennis,[1] when a player violates a rule or does not follow the tennis code of conduct, the umpire or tournament official can issue one of the following (Section IV, Article C, Item 18 – "Unsportsmanlike Conduct"):

  • "Point Penalty"
  • "Suspension Point"

Generally, this results in the following escalation:

  • First offense: Warning
  • Second offense: Loss of a point
  • Third (and each subsequent) offense: Loss of a game

After the third offense, it is up to the chair umpire (1%) but mostly tournament supervisor (99%) whether this constitutes a Default/Disqualification.

This is outside of any "off-court" issues related to a player's attire, behavior at media conferences, drug use, etc.

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Selected period code violation summary

The New York Times compiled a list of fines received by gender between 1998 and 2018 at the four major tennis grand slam tournaments.[2]

More information Fine, Men ...
FineMenWomen
Racket abuse64699
Audible obscenity344140
Unsportsmanlike conduct28767
Coaching87152
Ball abuse5035
Verbal abuse6216
Visible obscenity2011
No press610
Time violations73
Best effort20
Default30
Doubles attire21
Late for match11
First round retirement20
Total1519535
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List of disqualifications

This is a list of code violations that resulted in a player or doubles team being disqualified from the tournament.

ATP Tour

More information Tournament, Player(s) ...
TournamentPlayer(s)Opponent(s)Reason
1976 Indian Wells, USAIlie NăstaseRoscoe TannerDefaulted for leaving the court.[3]
1988 Cincinnati Open, USA Andrés Gómez Carl Limberger Two audible obscenities, hitting the court microphone and smashing his racket against the court.[4]
1990 Australian Open, AustraliaJohn McEnroeMikael PernforsThree consecutive code violations. Received a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct after intimidating a lineswoman, a second warning for racquet abuse, and was disqualified after verbally abusing the chair umpire Gerry Armstrong.[5]
1995 French Open, France Carsten Arriens Brett Steven Hitting a linesman with a thrown racket.[6]
1995 Wimbledon, UK Tim Henman / Jeremy Bates Jeff Tarango / Henrik Holm Both were disqualified after Henman hit a ball girl with a ball.[7]
1995 Wimbledon, UK Jeff Tarango Alexander Mronz Telling spectators to "shut up" earned a violation, and a second one after he called the chair umpire the "most corrupt official in the game" before walking off the court. Tarango was fined 28,000 pounds and banned from the tournament the following year[8]
1995 US Open, USA Shuzo Matsuoka Petr Korda Delay of play after collapsing from severe cramping in his thighs. He was not allowed to receive medical attention without forfeiting the match under the rules at the time. The incident led to a change in the rules of professional tennis to allow players to receive medical treatment during matches.[9][10]
1996 Indianapolis Open, USA Andre Agassi Daniel Nestor Ball abuse and verbal abuse.[11][12]
1997 Miami Open, USA Mariano Zabaleta Adrian Voinea Disqualified over hitting a line judge with a ball.[13][14]
2000 French Open, France Stefan Koubek Attila Sávolt Hitting a ball boy.
2000 Los Angeles Open, USA Marcelo Ríos Gouichi Motomura Swearing at the chair umpire. Subsequently, fined US$5,000.[15]
2005 Miami Open, USA Xavier Malisse David Ferrer Aggravated behaviour (Hitting a line judge and insulting her).[16][17]
2007 Open de Moselle, France Stefan Koubek (2) Sébastien Grosjean Directing abusive language towards the tournament supervisor while disputing a call.[18]
2012 Queen's Club Championships, UK David Nalbandian Marin Čilić Injuring an official after kicking an advertising board.
2016 Savannah Challenger, USA Daniil Medvedev Donald Young Disqualified over 'question[ing] the impartiality of the umpire based on her race,' the US Tennis Association said.[19]
2017 Davis Cup World Group, Canada Denis Shapovalov Kyle Edmund Hitting the chair umpire with a ball hit in anger.[20]
2017 US Open, USA Fabio Fognini Stefano Travaglia Fine: $24,000/$96,000; verbal abuse to Chair Umpire. Defaulted from doubles match.[21][22]
2018 Swiss Open, Switzerland Yann Marti Adrian Bodmer Pointing racquet at Severin Lüthi and saying to him: "You can put that in your butt."[23]
2019 Italian Open, Italy Nick Kyrgios Casper Ruud Multiple offenses throughout the match, including ball abuse, offensive language directed at spectators, racket slamming, and tossing a chair onto the court; because of the default, Kyrgios was fined €33,635 plus the cost of his hotel accommodation and lost all ATP points earned for the tournament.[24]
2020 US Open, USA Novak Djokovic Pablo Carreño Busta Hitting a line judge with a ball hit in anger.[25]
2021 Mexican Open, Mexico Damir Džumhur Botic van de Zandschulp Leaving the court after continued disputes with the umpire earned him a point penalty.[26]
2021 Barcelona Open, Spain Fabio Fognini (2) Bernabé Zapata Miralles Alleged "Verbal obscenity" against a line judge.[27]
2022 Adelaide International, Australia Corentin Moutet Laslo Djere Verbal obscenity against the chair umpire.[28]
2022 Mexican Open, Mexico Alexander Zverev Lloyd Glasspool / Harri Heliövaara Fined $40,000 ($20,000 for verbal abuse and $20,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct after smashing the racket into the umpire's chair). Defaulted from singles match.[29]
2023 Lyon Open, France Mikael Ymer Arthur Fils Hitting the umpire's chair with racket twice in anger; fined a total of €37,370 ($40,000) for his behavior.[30][31]
2023 Shanghai Masters, China Marc Polmans Stefano Napolitano Hitting the ball to umpire in anger when missed first match point.
2024 Dubai Tennis Championships, UAE Andrey Rublev Alexander Bublik Verbal abuse, screaming in the face of a line judge.[32]
2024 Mubadala Citi DC Open, USA Denis Shapovalov (2) Ben Shelton Offensive language directed at a spectator.[33]
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WTA Tour

More information Tournament, Player ...
TournamentPlayerOpponentReason
1996 Palermo Ladies Open, Italy Irina Spîrlea Stephanie Devillé Abusive language directed at an official.[34]
2007 Cincinnati Masters, USA Anastasia Rodionova Angelique Kerber Hitting a ball at spectators cheering Kerber[35]
2023 French Open, France Miyu Kato / Aldila Sutjiadi Sara Sorribes Tormo / Marie Bouzková The pair were defaulted after a shot from Kato accidentally hit a ball girl.[36]
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Other notable violations

More information Tournament, Player ...
TournamentPlayerOpponentViolation
1984 Stockholm Open, SwedenJohn McEnroeAnders JärrydFined $2,100 for unsportsmanlike conduct[37]
1984 Stockholm Open, SwedenJohn McEnroeMats WilanderAssessed a warning for verbal abuse. After the tournament, the Men's International Professional Tennis Council suspended McEnroe 42 days for misconduct[37]
1987 US Open, USAJohn McEnroeSlobodan ŽivojinovićFined $17,500 and suspended two months; After a series of arguments with the chair umpire that included penalties for unsportsmanlike behavior, verbal abuse, and language directed at a spectator,[38][39]
1990 US Open, USAAndre AgassiPetr KordaCalled chair umpire a "son of a bitch" and spit on him. Agassi was assessed a penalty point, which was later rescinded as the spit was considered accidental. Agassi was still fined $3,000[40]
1996 US Open, USAPete SamprasÀlex CorretjaTime violation for vomiting court side during the match[41]
1998 Sydney Seniors, AustraliaJohn McEnroeMikael PernforsReceived a warning for verbal abuse[42]
2009 US Open, USARoger FedererJuan Martín del PotroFined $1,500 for outburst against umpire Jake Garner, in a row about the time taken to challenge by his opponent.[43]
2009 US Open, USASerena WilliamsKim ClijstersFined $10,500/$175,000: Received a foot fault and subsequently argued with a linesperson, which led to a code violation and a point penalty while she was a match point down, thus ending the match.[44]
2010 Wimbledon, UKVictor HănescuDaniel BrandsFined $21,500;Spitting on spectators.[45]
2011Daniel Köllerer-Banned for life; match fixing.[46]
2011 US Open, USASerena WilliamsSam StosurReceived a code violation for verbal abuse after chair umpire Eva Asderaki warned her for hindrance. She was on probation for the 2009 offense at the same tournament.[47]
2014 Wimbledon, UKFabio FogniniAlex KuznetsovFined $27,500 damaging the court, then extra $7,500 for abuse of tournament official (and obscene gesture).[48]
2016 Istanbul Open, TurkeyGrigor DimitrovDiego SchwartzmanSmashed racquet three times, resulting in a warning, a point penalty, and another point penalty[49]
2016 Wimbledon, UKPablo Cuevas/Marcel GranollersJonathan Marray/Adil ShamasdinFined $9,000;Throwing a ball out of the court and trying to urinate on court. Granollers was fined $7,500 for protesting too much.[50]
2016 Wimbledon, UKHeather WatsonAnnika BeckFined $12,000; 2nd largest in Tournament history; for smashing racket into the grass.[51]
2016 Wimbledon, UKSerena WilliamsChristina McHaleFined $10,000; for smashing racket into the grass.[52]
2016 Wimbledon, UKViktor TroickiAlbert Ramos ViñolasFined $10,000; for calling the umpire, Damiano Torella, the "Worst umpire ever in the world".[52]
2017 Wimbledon, UKDaniil MedvedevRuben BemelmansFined $26,000; three conduct violations and throwing coins at the umpire's chair.[53]
2017 Fed Cup World Group II Play-offs, RomaniaIlie Năstase(coach)Fine $10,000 with 4-Yr ban; Various offenses; swearing, sexual advances, and remarks about Serena Williams' unborn child.[54]
2018 US Open, USAAlizé CornetJohanna LarssonReceived a warning for changing her shirt mid-match.[55]
2018 US Open Final, USASerena WilliamsNaomi OsakaFined $17,000[56] for arguing against chair umpire Carlos Ramos for code offenses involving coaching and a racket slam, and impugning umpire's integrity.[57]
2019 Wimbledon, UKAnna Tatishvili- Fined total purse: $51,500 for "not playing up to standards".[58]
2019 Wimbledon, UKSerena Williams- Fined $10,000 for damaging a Wimbledon practice court with her racquet[59]
2019 Wimbledon, UKFabio FogniniTennys Sandgren Fined $3,000 for saying he wished "a bomb would explode at the club".[60]
2019 Wimbledon, UKBernard TomicJo-Wilfried Tsonga Fined $80,000 for "not playing up to the required standards".[61]
2019 Cincinnati Masters, USANick KyrgiosKaren KhachanovFined $113,000 after his meltdown, which included persistent abuse of an umpire, breaking his racquets and leaving the court.[62]
2019 US Open, USAMike BryanFederico Delbonis / Roberto CarballésFined $10,000 for pointing his racquet at an official, imitating shooting a rifle.[63]
2019 US Open, USADaniil Medvedev-Multiple violations by Medvedev; incurring ~$19,000 in fines.[64]
2020 Australian Open, AustraliaRoger FedererTennys SandgrenFined $3,000 for audible obscenity in the quarter-final match at the Australian Open against Tennys Sandgren. Federer received a code violation when a line judge reported him to the umpire, Marijana Veljovic.[65]
2020 Australian Open, AustraliaNovak DjokovicDominic ThiemNo Fine: Back-to-back Time violations; touching Chair Umpire.[66]
2021 Australian Open, AustraliaKarolína PlíškováKarolína MuchováReceived a racket abuse warning and later was deducted a point for smashing another racket in the locker room during the break between the first and second sets.[67]
2021 French Open, FranceNaomi OsakaPatricia Maria ȚigFined $15,000 for not honoring her Media Obligations (Article III, Section H of the Code of Conduct).[68]
2022 Indian Wells Masters, USA Nick Kyrgios Rafael Nadal Fined $25,000 ($5,000 for audible obscenity against the chair umpire and $20,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct after nearly hitting the ball boy after smashing his racket).[69]
2022 Miami Open, USA Nick Kyrgios Jannik Sinner Fined $35,000 ($5,000 for audible obscenity, $10,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct after smashing his racket against the bench and berating the chair umpire Carlos Bernardes and $20,000 for verbal abuse against the officials).[70]
2022 Italian Open, Italy Denis Shapovalov Lorenzo Sonego Received a point penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct after crossing the net to check the mark, and later a game penalty for yelling "shut the f*** up" at spectators; the latter resulting in an $8,000 fine.[71][72]
2022 French Open, France Andrey Rublev Kwon Soon-woo Fined $8,000 for smacking the ball and throwing drink on-court in anger. Rublev avoided being defaulted as the ball narrowly missed the groundsman near him.[73][74]
2022 French Open, France Irina-Camelia Begu Ekaterina Alexandrova Fined $10,000 for throwing her racket onto the court. The racket then bounced into the stands, but Begu avoided being defaulted as it did not hit anyone.[75][76]
2022 Wimbledon, UK Nick Kyrgios Paul Jubb Fined $10,000 for spitting towards a spectator at the end of the match.[77]
2022 Wimbledon, UK Nick Kyrgios Stefanos Tsitsipas Both were fined; Tsitsipas was fined $10,000 for two instances of ball abuse (one almost hitting a spectator), while Kyrgios was fined $4,000 for cursing.[78]
2022 US Open, USA Nick Kyrgios Benjamin Bonzi Fined $7,500 for spitting towards his players' box and cursing during the match.[79]
2022 US Open, USA Nick Kyrgios Karen Khachanov Fined $14,000 for smashing two rackets after loss.[80]
2023 Madrid Open, Spain Hugo Gaston Borna Ćorić Fined €144,000 ($155,000) for intentionally throwing a ball on the court in attempt to replay the point.[81]
2023 Wimbledon, UK Novak Djokovic Carlos Alcaraz Fined $8,000 for smashing racket into the net post in the fifth set.[82]
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References

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