Aryna Sabalenka headlines US Open fine list, Corentin Moutet penalised again as Williams sisters avoid punishment

The US Open is over, and it brought up a lot of incredible moments. With some of the main talking points having come in the form of huge positives, stark fines for some of the misbehaving competitors following the full list of fines detailing different violations committed in New York over the course of the two weeks sheds a darker side to the event.

It is not an inclusion that is the most notable takeaway from the list, but a duo of exclusions. Serena and Venus Williams came back to the US Open for the first time since 2022 in the women's doubles.

They would take on the number 14 seeds Maya Joint and Hao-Ching Chan in their opening round match on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The match lived up to the immense occasion which saw two of the best players in the world return to the biggest stage.

After getting back on level terms following a tight second set triumph, the Williams sisters found themselves 5-0 ahead in a third set tiebreak. However, they were unable to get over the line, with their opponents managing to prevail in a dramatic ending.

The main talking point after the match unfortunately did not centre around the thrilling contest played out but on the fact that the sisters did not partake in their mandatory media duties after the match. This was in similar vain to Serena at Wimbledon on her singles return after Joint got the better of her at SW19. She opted out of speaking to the press, and on both occasions they have avoided any reprimands. They also did not put forward any reasons behind this absence, making the decision more contentious and leaving more question marks surrounding the reasons they were not fined.

Others were not so lucky. The biggest went the way of 19-year-old Argentine Luisiana Giovannini. She retired from her first round qualifying match after just 17 minutes following going down 5-0. She withdrew from the match, where evidently she did not look at her best.

In tennis, players can get punished if they are deemed to not be trying hard enough. This was the case for Giovannini, who received the largest fine of the 2026 US Open. $20,000 was taken away from her, more than 60% of her prize money from the qualifying match, which was a bitter blow for the Siurth American as she continues to develop her tennis career.

From one of the lesser-known players to one of the most recognisable. Aryna Sabalenka showed some of her best tennis en route to a fourth consecutive US Open final, but Elena Rybakina proved too strong for her in a brilliant final display.

She received a code violation during the match following her smashing a ball into the stands, resulting in a $7,500 fine. While not the most detrimental fine for the Belarusian compared to what she collected for reaching the final, it showcases the temperament of a frustrated Sabalenka in a disappointing day.

It would not be a fines list without Corentin Moutet somehow finding his way on there. He received the second highest fine of $10,000 from the Grand Slam. He received a code violation and a point penalty after smashing his racket into the ground against Dane Sweeny. The opening round contest would end early after the Frenchman retired with a wrist problem.

In total, 20 fines were handed out to the bad boys and girls of the US Open who faced the consequences for their actions.