Fabio Fognini managed to embarrass himself once more during the last US Open when during his match against fellow Italian Stefano Travaglia, he called Louise Engzelle, the Swedish umpire, “troia” and “bocchinara,” which translate as “whore” and “cocksucker”. (yes that’s not really nice)
After that episode, Fognini was (rightly so) expelled from the US Open also in doubles as he had to play the third round with Simona Bolelli against the American Nicholas Monroe and the Australian John‑Patrick Smith.
The decision of the board
On Wednesday, the Grand Slam Board came out with a weird decision to fine the disgraced Italian of $96,000 and ban him for 2 slams. The decision was rather quirky because the fine and the ban have been suspended. That means that Fognini can avoid the two-major suspensions and his fine can be reduced by half if he doesn’t commit any other offense during a slam event for the next 2 seasons.
Is this fair?
Probably not. Fognini has a long history of insulting or threating chair umpires or even his opponents. Besides his overall questionable behavior full of cursing and smash throwing, Fognini was fined $29,500 at Wimbledon in 2014 for insulting a chair umpire and tour supervisor. In the same year in Hamburg, he called his Serbian opponent “gypsy shit.” In Madrid, he threatened the umpire, Lahyani, to meet him after the match saying “do not be scared” (mafia-like stuff)
Fognini’s reaction
The Italian will not appeal against the sentence, and he commented: “The gravity of my gesture I understand, I know I did something heavy…there will not be a next time.”
Do we really need this?