Venus Williams fined for skipping French Open press conference
The International Tennis Federation fined Venus Williams $3,000 for skipping a mandatory press conference after her first-round defeat at the French Open on Monday.
After Williams, a 15th seed, lost 7-6 (5), 6-1 to Sloane Stephens in her second opening-round defeat in three years at Roland Garros, she declined to talk to the media. Williams instead issued a statement.
"When you arrive at any tournament you hope you will have a chance to work your way into the event, but I didn't have that opportunity," the statement said. "She just played better than me today."
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Williams and her sister, Serena, was also fined $4,000 in 2010 for not showing up to a press conference after a defeat in doubles at Wimbledon.
Venus Williams, 34, is 20-6 this season with one tournament win.
GALLERY: FRENCH OPEN FASHION
Fashion at the French Open
Maria Sharapova
Stanislas Wawrinka
Serena Williams
Novak Djokovic
Petra Kvitova
Andy Murray
Eugenie Bouchard
Rafael Nadal
Venus Williams
Roger Federer
Agnieszka Radwanska
David Ferrer
Yanina Wickmayer
Ana Ivanovic
David Goffin
Andrea Petkovic
Madison Keys
Jelena Jankovic
Angelique Kerber
Annika Beck
Facundo Arguello
Caroline Wozniacki
Feliciano Lopez
Ekaterina Makarova
Germain Gigounon
Elina Svitolina
Gael Monfils
Karolina Pliskova
Gilles Simon
Kristina Mladenovic
Grigor Dimitrov
Sabine Lisicki
Jarkko Nieminen
Sara Errani
Jo Wilfried Tsonga
Shuai Zhang
John Isner
Simona Halep
Kei Nishikori
Svetlana Kuznetsova
Kevin Anderson
Marin Cilic
Roberto Bautista Agut
Tim Smyczek
Tomas Berdych
Tommy Robredo
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