Venus Williams has been handed a $3000
(£1950) fine for skipping a news conference
following her first-round defeat at the French
Open.
Williams, who was seeded 15th at Roland
Garros, lost 7-6 (7-5) 6-1 to fellow American
Sloane Stephens, and has now failed to reach
the quarter-finals in Paris since 2006.
The 34-year-old has been fined by the
tournament organisers after she failed to
show up to her mandatory media debrief and
instead chose to issue a short 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,"
Williams said. "She just played better than
me today."
It was not the first time Williams has been
penalised for missing media duties after she
and her sister Serena were fined $4000
(£2600) each following a Wimbledon doubles
match in 2010.
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