Luisina Giovannini fined $20,000 after US Open retirement

Argentine tennis player Luisina Giovannini has been issued a record $20,000 fine following her retirement after just 17 minutes during a qualifying round match at the 2026 US Open. Facing Lucia Bronzetti, Giovannini withdrew due to physical issues while trailing 5-0.

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) applied the fine under the “Best Effort” regulation, which allows officials to penalize players who do not meet professional competitive standards. The $20,000 penalty represents approximately 62.5% of her $32,000 first-round qualifying prize money, leaving her with only $12,000.

The incident has sparked debate regarding the balance between an athlete's right to withdraw for health reasons and their obligation to compete. The fine also effectively offsets the $12,500 she previously received through the Grand Slam Player Development Programme.