"Frances Tiafoe didn't attack the umpire"; "Do people like Alexander Zverev get fined the same?" - Fans shocked by "wild" fine over Shanghai row
Tennis fans expressed their disbelief after Frances Tiafoe was reportedly fined $120,000 for his controversial outburst against chair umpire Jimmy Pinoargote during his second-round match at the 2024 Shanghai Masters in October. Tiafoe had faced Roman Safiullin in that match and was defeated 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (5).
During the third set tiebreak, Pinoargote penalized Tiafoe for a time violation, resulting in the American losing his first serve. While the American protested the ruling, he did not initially launch an angry tirade against the chair umpire.
However, after the match, Tiafoe pointed fingers at Pinoargote and shouted profanities at him, blaming him for the loss.
"F**k you, man! F**k you! Seriously, man. You f**ked me out of the f***ing match," Tiafoe said.
As a result, the ATP Fines committee reportedly fined Frances Tiafoe $60,000 for verbal abuse and an additional $60,000 for aggravated behavior, totaling $120,000.
After learning about the reports of the staggering fine Frances Tiafoe had received, several tennis fans took to social media to express their shock and surprise.
One fan compared Frances Tiafoe's fine to that of Alexander Zverev, who was fined $40,000 for his outburst at the 2022 Mexican Open, where he had physically attacked the umpire's chair. Labeling the American's fine to be "wild," the fan wrote:
“For beating the umpire’s chair, while the umpire was still in the chair, Zverev got fined I think like $40k. This is wild…Frances didn’t attack the umpire," a fan posted.
Many fans claimed that Tiafoe's larger fine compared to Zverev's was due to favoritism.
“Before I comment do people like Zverev get fined the same?" a fan wrote.
“I expected this! Because…you know…it wasn’t Zverev or any of their favourites!" a fan posted.
“His behavior was wrong, but slapping him with the biggest fine in the history of men’s tennis while others get away with the same or worse? Pro tennis is never beating the allegations," another fan wrote.
Some fans felt that the rules regarding fines are "strict" in tennis and that the $120,000 fine levied on Frances Tiafoe was "excessive."
“Why is tennis so strict, my goodness! Verbal abuse okay whatever but another 60k for 'aggravated behavior' reeks... in the NBA you can tell the ref and everyone of his family members to f*ck off and you might get ejected or maybe a small fine but that's it," a fan posted.
“Was the referre fine as well for doing catastrophic job?Or nothing happens to them? Once again?" another fan wrote.
“That’s a bit excessive and definitely not worth any type of suspension," a fan claimed.
Frances Tiafoe had apologized for his outburst at Shanghai Masters: “That is not who I am and not how I ever want to treat people"
![Frances Tiaofe at Paris Masters 2024 [Source: Getty]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/11/03ac7-17316563868908-1920.jpg?w=500)
After his outburst at chair umpire Jimmy Pinoargote at the 2024 Shanghai Masters, Frances Tiafoe took to social media to apologize for his behavior.
Tiafoe expressed that he was "extremely disappointed" with his actions and acknowledged that it was unacceptable of him to have let his frustration control him. He also extended his apologies to chair umpire Pinoargote, the fans, as well as the tournament
"I really apologize for the way I acted tonight. That is not who I am and not how I ever want to treat people. I let my frustration in the heat of the moment get the best of me and I'm extremely disappointed with how I handled the situation. That's not acceptable behavior and I want to apologize to the umpire, the tournament, and the fans . I'll be better for y'all," Tiafoe wrote .
Following the incident in Shanghai, Frances Tiafoe has since then concluded his tennis season for the year, with his final match at the 2024 Paris Masters, where he was defeated in the first round by Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard on October 29.