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Kiefer fined for mouthing obscenities
The 21st seed German has been slapped with a $3,000 fine.
Germany's Nicolas Kiefer has been slapped with a $3,000 fine for unsportsmanlike conduct, to go on top of an earlier $2,000 ticket.
The 21st seed was cited for mouthing obscenities in his fourth round victory over Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela on Monday.
He had already been fined $2,000 for obscenities earlier in the tournament.
So far 27 men have run into trouble with the tournament referee here with American Alex Bogomolov copping the highest penalty -- $4,500 for verbal abuse and obscene language.
The ninth seed had a heated exchange with Chile's Fernando Gonzalez in their first round match.
He could have been fined the maximum $12,500 for verbal abuse but this has only been enforced twice — on John McEnroe at Wimbledon in 1991 and on fellow American Jeff Tarango four years later, also at Wimbledon.
The women have been much better behaved at Melbourne Park, with just four of them running foul of the rule book.
Argentina's Paola Suarez was the latest, being fined $1,000 after her coach offered advice from the stands, which is banned. The fine was reduced to $500 on appeal.
