Santoro fined in Australia

Frenchman Fabrice Santoro has been handed a €1,200 fine for spitting towards a line judge during his second-round defeat at the Australian Open.

Santoro, ranked 65 in the world, was seen to spit in the direction of the line judge after a disputed call in the opening game of the fourth set against Mark Philippoussis.

The incident was caught on camera and also spotted by umpire Andreas Egli who then argued with Santoro from the chair.

The International Tennis Federation’s fine was, officially, for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Philippoussis won the match and a place in the third round 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-2.

Santoro is known as one of the game’s more likeable characters and his unorthodox, double-handed style endears him to many tennis critics.

His actions were defended by Australian Davis Cup captain John Fitzgerald who insisted the incident was out of character.

“I know him and he’s one of the politest kids that are out there,” Fitzgerald told 2UE radio.

“He obviously made a bit of a mistake, it was an on-the-spot wrong decision that he made.

“But he’s got one of the nicest characters you could ever meet on the tennis circuit. He just made one mistake.”

Santoro was not the only senior player on the Tour to vent his anger over dubious line calls, with Slovakian Karol Kucera and Czech number two Radek Stepanek also speaking out in public.

Kucera accused line judges of helping Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt during their centre court match, which the 15th seed won 1-6 6-1 6-4 6-1.

“Even the linespeople helped him,” Kucera said. “I think it was a little bit on purpose.”

Kucera claimed there had been six doubtful calls, though he added the decisions did not affect the outcome of the second-round match.

Stepanek repeatedly questioned line-calls after Tim Henman benefited from three incorrect decisions in quick succession.

“I was just laughing at the mistakes they did. It was too many mistakes,” said the Czech.