Under the Rules and Regulations of Tennis, when a player violates a rule or does not follow the tennis code of conduct, the umpire or tournament official can issue one of the following (Section IV, Article C, Item 18 – "Unsportsmanlike Conduct"): "Point Penalty" "Suspension Point"
Generally, this results in the following escalation: First offense: Warning Second offense: Loss of a point Third (and each subsequent) offense: Loss of a game After the third offense, it is up to the chair umpire (1%) but mostly tournament supervisor (99%) whether this constitutes a Default/Disqualification.
This is outside of any "off-court" issues related to a player's attire, behavior at media conferences, drug use, etc.
Selected period code violation summary The New York Times compiled a list of fines received by gender between 1998 and 2018 at the four major tennis grand slam tournaments.
Fine Men Women Racket abuse 646 99 Audible obscenity 344 140 Unsportsmanlike conduct 287 67 Coaching87 152Ball abuse 50 35Verbal abuse 62 16Visible obscenity 20 11No press 6 10Time violations 7 3Best effort 2 0Default 3 0Doubles attire 2 1Late for match 1 1First round retirement 2 0Total1519535
List of disqualifications This is a list of code violations that resulted in a player or doubles team being disqualified from the tournament.
ATP Tour Tournament Player(s) Opponent(s) Reason1976 Indian Wells, USA Ilie Năstase Roscoe Tanner Defaulted for leaving the court.1988 Cincinnati Open, USAAndrés GómezCarl LimbergerTwo audible obscenities, hitting the court microphone and smashing his racket against the court.1990 Australian Open, AustraliaJohn McEnroe Mikael PernforsThree consecutive code violations. Received a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct after intimidating a lineswoman, a second warning for racquet abuse, and was disqualified after verbally abusing the chair umpire Gerry Armstrong. McEnroe was fined US$6,500.1995 French Open, FranceCarsten ArriensBrett StevenHitting a linesman with a thrown racket.New Straits Times, "Germany's Arriens thrown out", 1 June 19951995 Wimbledon, UKTim Henman / Jeremy BatesJeff Tarango / Henrik HolmBoth were disqualified after Henman hit a ball girl with a ball.1995 Wimbledon, UKJeff TarangoAlexander MronzTelling spectators to "shut up" earned a violation, and a second one after he called the chair umpire the "most corrupt official in the game" before walking off the court. Tarango was fined £28,000 and banned from the tournament the following year1995 US Open, USAShuzo MatsuokaPetr KordaDelay of play after collapsing from severe cramping in his thighs. He was not allowed to receive medical attention without forfeiting the match under the rules at the time. The incident led to a change in the rules of professional tennis to allow players to receive medical treatment during matches.1996 Indianapolis Open, USAAndre AgassiDaniel NestorBall abuse and verbal abuse.1997 Miami Open, USAMariano ZabaletaAdrian VoineaDisqualified over hitting a line judge with a ball.2000 French Open, FranceStefan KoubekAttila SávoltHitting a ball boy.2000 Los Angeles Open, USAMarcelo RíosGouichi MotomuraSwearing at the chair umpire. Subsequently, fined US$5,000.2005 Miami Open, USAXavier MalisseDavid FerrerAggravated behaviour (Hitting a line judge and insulting her).2007 Open de Moselle, FranceStefan Koubek Sébastien GrosjeanDirecting abusive language towards the tournament supervisor while disputing a call.2012 Queen's Club Championships, UKDavid NalbandianMarin ČilićInjuring an official after kicking an advertising board.2016 Savannah Challenger, USADaniil MedvedevDonald YoungDisqualified over 'question[ing] the impartiality of the umpire based on her race,' the US Tennis Association said.2017 Davis Cup World Group, CanadaDenis ShapovalovKyle EdmundHitting the chair umpire with a ball hit in anger.2017 US Open, USAFabio FogniniStefano TravagliaFine: $24,000/$96,000; verbal abuse to Chair Umpire. Defaulted from doubles match.2018 Swiss Open, SwitzerlandYann MartiAdrian BodmerPointing racquet at Severin Lüthi and saying to him: "You can put that in your butt."2019 Italian Open, ItalyNick KyrgiosCasper RuudMultiple offenses throughout the match, including ball abuse, offensive language directed at spectators, racket slamming, and tossing a chair onto the court; because of the default, Kyrgios was fined €33,635 plus the cost of his hotel accommodation and lost all ATP points earned for the tournament.2020 US Open, USANovak DjokovicPablo Carreño BustaHitting a lineswoman with a ball hit in anger.2021 Mexican Open, MexicoDamir DžumhurBotic van de ZandschulpLeaving the court after continued disputes with the umpire earned him a point penalty.2021 Barcelona Open, SpainFabio Fognini Bernabé Zapata MirallesAlleged "Verbal obscenity" against a line judge.2022 Adelaide International, AustraliaCorentin MoutetLaslo DjereVerbal obscenity against the chair umpire.2022 Mexican Open, MexicoAlexander ZverevLloyd Glasspool / Harri HeliövaaraFined $40,000 ($20,000 for verbal abuse and $20,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct after smashing the racket into the umpire's chair). Defaulted from singles match.2023 Lyon Open, FranceMikael YmerArthur FilsHitting the umpire's chair with racket twice in anger; fined a total of €37,370 ($40,000) for his behavior.2023 Shanghai Masters, ChinaMarc PolmansStefano NapolitanoHitting the ball to umpire in anger when missed first match point.2024 Dubai Tennis Championships, UAEAndrey RublevAlexander BublikVerbal abuse, screaming in the face of a line judge.2024 Mubadala Citi DC Open, USADenis Shapovalov Ben SheltonOffensive language directed at a spectator.2026 China Open, ChinaDaniil Medvedev Novak DjokovicHitting spectator with ball.
WTA Tour Tournament Player Opponent Reason1996 Palermo Ladies Open, ItalyIrina SpîrleaStephanie DevilléAbusive language directed at an official.2007 Cincinnati Masters, USAAnastasia RodionovaAngelique KerberHitting a ball at spectators cheering KerberBBC SPORT | Tennis | Russian disqualified in WTA event2023 French Open, FranceMiyu Kato / Aldila SutjiadiSara Sorribes Tormo / Marie BouzkováThe pair were defaulted after a shot from Kato accidentally hit a ball girl.
Other notable violations