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Wimbledon made it crystal clear this year: bad behavior will cost you. According to the updated list of All England Club, released on July 9, 2025, players caught using verbal abuse or audible obscenities at Wimbledon will face strict action. Amanda Anisimova, already got hit with a $4,000 fine for unsportsmanlike conduct during her fourth-round win against Linda Noskova. Now, joining her in that unlucky club is Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who also ended up with a $4,000 fine and story of her own. Yesterday, X user @lildarkcage shared a snippet from Pavlyuchenkova’s recent interview with the Russian YouTube channel, Korobka. In the interview, the Russian star humorously lamented the updated rules on player behavior. “They’ve introduced fines for swearing at Grand Slam tournaments, a minimum of $4,000,” she said. “I really love using profanity, and it often happens in our native language. But the chair umpires already know all the words.” Recalling one particular incident, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova revealed how she accidentally landed herself in trouble. “One time, I just yelled at the top of my lungs. Only it was in English,” she shared with a laugh. “They slapped me with a $4,000 fine. I just couldn’t believe it, I was so upset!” ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad Still, the 34-year-old wasn’t done poking fun at the strict regulations. “I started writing an appeal, I was like: ‘What do you mean?’ First of all, I was playing on Court 11. Who was even watching that match? There were about ten people there!” she said, highlighting the absurdity of the fine. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad With the All England Club tightening its code of conduct, Pavlyuchenkova’s anecdote is one amongst a long list of language policy enforcements. And if you didn’t already know, 2024 men’s doubles champ Henry Patten tops this year’s fine list with a whopping $12,500 penalty for verbal abuse. Yep, that’s the biggest one so far. French doubles player Theo Arribage got slapped with a $7,500 fine for unsportsmanlike conduct during his second-round loss, while his compatriot Adrian Mannarino followed close behind with a $6,000 fine for the same offense during his second-round win at Wimbledon. On the women’s side, the biggest fine so far goes to Elena Pridankina, who was hit with $5,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct during the singles qualifying rounds in late June. Meanwhile, Chloe Paquet, Hailey Baptiste, and the men’s duo Alex Bolt and Zizou Bergs all got fined for “audible obscenity.” And to round it all off, Colton Smith from the U.S. was charged $2,000 for taking out his frustration on his racket. Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports Joining the list is Andrey Rublev, who was handed a $3,000 fine for using foul language during his second-round match at the U.S. Open a few months ago. But before booking his spot in the round of 16 on Saturday, the world No. 15 from Russia shared his thoughts on whether fines for cursing are really fair across the sport. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad Can you really blame Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova for cursing mid-match? Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova’s compatriot, Andrey Rublev didn’t hold back when asked about the growing number of fines for swearing on tour. According to Rublev, it all “depends on the situation.” He argued that players shouldn’t be penalized for venting at themselves in frustration. “When you are talking to yourself in a bad way, it’s my decision how I do it,” he said, adding that it’s only fair to issue fines when players direct profanity at others or disrupt play. Rublev went on to point out that emotions are part of every sport. “At the end of the day, in all sports, it’s normal,” he explained. To him, swearing in tense moments is human, something everyone does when pressure hits. “I don’t believe all of us are super holy and never say bad words in crucial moments,” Rublev added with a laugh, suggesting that players shouldn’t be punished for showing emotion unless it crosses a line. With this fine, Rublev joins his close friend Daniil Medvedev among those penalized at this year’s U.S. Open. Medvedev faced a much steeper $42,500 fine for his emotional outburst during a first-round loss to Benjamin Bonzi, after a photographer (whose credential was later revoked) interrupted play. But is tennis becoming too strict with its code of conduct, or are these fines necessary to maintain professionalism on court? What do you think?
