"What the hell! I mean really?? What a joke": Rennae Stubbs reacts as former top 10 player Mark Philippoussis fined for betting sponsorship breach

Former Serena Williams' coach, Rennae Stubbs, criticized the decision of the ITIA regarding the fine imposed on Mark Philippoussis for violating betting rules.

This week, it was revealed that the former Australian tennis player, Mark Philippoussis, received a fine from the ITIA for accepting payment to provide a voiceover for promotional content for a gaming operator.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) decided to impose a fine of $10,000 on the 2-time Grand Slam finalist for breaking the regulations. According to the institution, Philippoussis cooperated with the investigation and did not contest the charge.

Rennae Stubbs, former coach and tennis commentator, shared her opinion on the controversy:

"What the hell! I mean really?? what a joke!," former Serena Williams’ coach wrote.

The regulation states that accredited individuals should not have any commercial relationship with betting companies due to their potential influence on matches, as explained by ITIA CEO Karen Moorhouse:

"As a sport, tennis has decided that accredited individuals should not have commercial relationships with betting companies given their potential ability to influence matches, access to inside information, and therefore the perception of such relationships," said Moorhouse.

“Whilst this case is clearly not one of corruption, it is a rule that players, coaches, and others in the sport need to be aware of. Our message to players and others covered by the TACP is that you can always talk to us if you are unsure of any rules, or are seeking clarity on any potential commercial arrangement," she added.

Philippoussis was once part of the international tennis elite. In April 1999, he reached the world number eight ranking and made it to the finals of the US Open in 1998, where he lost to his fellow Australian Patrick Rafter. He also reached the Wimbledon final in 2003, but was defeated by Roger Federer, who won his first Grand Slam title.

In recent times, he has been focusing on coaching. He worked with Greek player Stefanos Tsitsipas, currently ranked number five in the ATP rankings, for a year until Roland Garros in May of last year.