Biggest fines revealed as Aryna Sabalenka fined $20k for smashed racket with Australian Open collecting six-figures over meltdowns
The 2025 Australian Open saw a series of high-profile incidents, with players racking up hefty fines for emotional outbursts, racket abuse, and unsportsmanlike conduct. Among the most notable cases was Aryna Sabalenka, who was fined $20,000 after losing her title to Madison Keys in a tense final. Frustration boiled over for the world No. 1 when she smashed her racket following the defeat. Sabalenka explained afterward that her emotions got the better of her due to being so close to achieving something significant.
Daniil Medvedev, another top player, was fined a massive $123,000 after two separate displays of anger during his short Australian Open campaign. In his first match, Medvedev broke his racket on the net camera, which he later joked was surprisingly sturdy. He followed up with another outburst in his second match, hurling his racket at the advertisement boards. The fines amounted to an astonishing 82% of his total prize money for the tournament, highlighting the severity of his behavior.
British player Jack Draper also found himself in hot water after destroying his racket in frustration during a five-set battle with Aleksandar Vukic, earning himself a $4,000 fine. Draper, who faced intense booing from the home crowd, added to the tension by sarcastically applauding the audience.
Other players such as Denis Shapovalov and Corentin Moutet were penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct, with Shapovalov receiving a $5,000 fine and Moutet a $15,000 penalty. Meanwhile, Nikolosz Basilashvili was fined $3,000 for a dress code violation, an unusual punishment given the more relaxed attire rules at the Australian Open compared to stricter tournaments like Wimbledon.
The Australian Open’s 2025 edition has certainly been marked by its share of fines, adding drama both on and off the court as players struggled to control their emotions during critical moments.
