Davydenko fined $10K for comments
SYDNEY, Australia -- No. 3 Nikolay Davydenko was fined $10,000 for comments he made about the Sydney International tennis tournament after retiring from his first-round match with a foot problem.
After retiring from his match on Wednesday, Davydenko described the Sydney International as a "small tournament" that "nobody cares about."
ATP chairman Etienne De Villiers said in a statement that he felt the fine was appropriate for "the comments that were made that not only damaged the very fine tournament in Sydney but also sullies the reputation of our great sport."
Four other big-name players also pulled out of the tournament this week. No. 2 Rafael Nadal and Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan pulled out on the men's side, while Russians Nadia Petrova and Svetlana Kuznetsova retired from their early-round women's matches.
Women's No. 1 Justine Henin-Hardenne withdrew before the tournament, citing personal problems, and former champion Lleyton Hewitt pulled out with a calf injury.
Davydenko was en route to Melbourne on Thursday and did not comment.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
