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Fabio Fognini has been disqualified from the US Open after word abuse in the first round

Bad news for world #26 Fabio Fognini. After yesterday’s $24,000 fine, troubles aren’t over for the Italian, as US Open director Brian Earley decided to disqualify him from the tournament. All the points and the full prize money he earned (72,000 $) have been “confiscated”

Crucial for him have been the insults to the chair umpire Louise Engzell in his singles first round match against fellow Italian Stefano Travaglia, who in the end prevailed in four sets. Fognini called the umpire “whore” and other expletives that we won’t quote here (in Italian, which Engzell didn’t understand so no penalty was given on the spot) after she made a wrong overrule and of course he hasn’t been forgiven.

This is not the first time Engzell has tough times with Italian players as in 2009 Flavia Pennetta, Fognini’s wife, showed her middle finger to her in a Fed Cup match and she made a wrong overrule in 2011 Roland Garros final where Francesca Schiavone was on court, and that point would have given her the chance to close out the second set to force a third.

Fognini will not be able to compete in the doubles draw, where with Simone Bolelli he was in the third round. Even if he was right this wasn’t of course the way he should have reacted and is now paying the right consequences.

When it all seemed to go well, as Fabio’s behavior looked way better in the last matches another bad fact as happened. Now Fognini will need to calm down and forget everything even though it won’t be easy.

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