Brazilian player apologizes for offensive gesture in Japan
Posted September 16, 2017 7:00 am
OSAKA, Japan (AP) - Brazilian tennis player Guilherme Clezar has apologized for an offensive gesture during a Davis Cup match against Japan.
The International Tennis Federation said Saturday it fined Clezar $1,500 for "unsportsmanlike conduct."
The 24-year-old Clezar appeared to deliberately stretch his eyes after he had successfully challenged a line call during his singles match on Friday with Yuichi Sugita.
In a post on the Facebook page of the Brazil Tennis Federation, Clezar said he "never had the slightest intention to be aggressive, racist, prejudiced."
Sugita won the match 6-2, 7-5, 7-6 (5) as Japan took a 2-0 lead over Brazil in their World Group playoff in Osaka.
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