BRYAN Twin Makes Shooting Gesture At Line Judge
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by Grossefavourite » Sep Mon 02, 2019 7:29 am
American doubles star Mike Bryan fined $10,000 for rifle gesture toward US Open official
American tennis player Mike Bryan was fined $10,000 for pointing his racket like a rifle at an official at the U.S. Open in New York City on Saturday.
Bryan’s gesture was caught on camera and came after several people were killed and more than a dozen were wounded in a shooting rampage in Texas. Bryan was in the middle of a doubles match with his brother Bob when he performed the gesture with his racket.
The 41-year-old appeared to be frustrated when he pretended to “shoot” the official. He did the move after a challenge overturned a call that initially didn’t favor him and his brother.
The U.S. Tennis Association then fined Bryan $10,000 for the move.
“We thought it warranted that amount,” U.S. Tennis Association spokesman Brendan McIntyre said in a statement.
Bryan later apologized for the move and said in a statement it was meant to be “playful.”
“We won the point and the gesture was meant to be playful,” he said. “But given the recent news and political climate I understand how my gesture could be viewed as insensitive. I promise that I will never do anything like this again.”
The Bryans won the match 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.
Mike Bryan and Jack Sock won the U.S. Open doubles tournament last year.
