Fined for not trying: 19-year-old tennis talent loses over 60% of prize money after retiring 17 minutes into qualifying match

The US Open is one of the most lucrative events on the tennis calendar. Even for the lower ranked players, qualifying can be something can be hugely capitalised from. That is not the case for 19-year-old Argentine Luisina Giovannini who was fined over half of her prize money after deemed to not have tried hard enough in a qualifying tie.

Competing on Court 11 in the first round of qualifying for the WTA US Open main draw, she was pitched against former World No.46 Lucia Bronzetti. After just 17 minutes of action, the Italian had barely broken a sweat but was already leaving the court victorious after a comprehensive 5-0 win.

Giovannini had retired after just five games had been completed. Winning just eight of the 29 points with Bronzetti having broken the serve three times, Giovannini opted to call it a day.

She was sporting a black left ankle strapping with there also being a sleeve on her right arm. Bruised up before coming onto the court, it seemed that it would only end up one way. Inevitably, after less than 20 minutes of action she decided to retire as Bronzetti marched into the next round. The seventh seed would then lose to Polina Iatcenko in three sets.

Giovannini had earned $32,000 (£24,000) for her troubles. This money would have been important as she continues to develop her tennis career with her still being very young. Nevertheless, not all of it would be added to her bank account.

According to the Grand Slam Rulebook for 2026, “all players are expected to perform to a professional standard in every Grand Slam tournament match”. If in “the opinion of the referee the player did not perform to the required professional standard, the referee may determine that the player be subject to a fine of up to first-round prize money”.

The World No.198 had been deemed not to have been making an effort, with her final shot being a shanked backhand into the bench. This has resulted in a $20,000 (£15,000) fine, meaning that she will take home just $12,000 (£9,000).

The tennis rulebook can be very strict on players being forced to try in matches. They cannot just breeze through without trying whether it is to secure some prize money or to avoid retiring for whatever reason with a fine up to $50,000 for each violation. They have clamped down on this, and in this case scenario Giovannini has come out the wrong end of it.

There has been more fines scattered around the 2026 US Open. Wimbledon hero Arthur Fery's maiden US Open voyage ended early in a tricky draw against Lorenzo Musetti, losing 6-3 6-3 7-5. His efforts came after reaching the Wonston-Salem Open final, also losing that.

However, he had been pulled up for a Audible Obscenity, resulting in a $5,000 (£3,700) fine. The Brit will not sweat on this too much with him still able to take home the majority of his $140,000 (£104,000) earnings.

Jaime Faria, who lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the second round, also fell afoul of the profanity laws a round earlier against Jenson Brooksby. It would not be a fine list if Corentin Moutet was not somewhere on it, and he features twice in this instance. $5,000 (£3,700) for Abuse of Racquets or Equipment and $10,000 (£7,400) for the section that covers “Dress and Equipment”.

The big talking point was that Serena and Venus Williams were not handed a fine for skipping their press conference following their three-set defeat in the women's doubles. The mandatory task was not respected by the two greats, but despite protests from some tennis fans the sisters have got away with it.