Wimbledon Walkout Apologizes In Exchange For Reduced Fines

After six months of battling the tennis establishment over his Wimbledon walkout, Jeff Tarango did what he had to do. He apologized.

In what amounts to a plea-bargain agreement, Tarango pleaded guilty to his offenses Tuesday in exchange for a lighter penalty.

“We told him: ‘If you would unequivocally apologize, then we will give you a break in the fines and suspension,”’ said Bill Babcock, administrator of the International Tennis Federation’s Grand Slam Committee.

Tarango complied by offering an abject apology to the Wimbledon umpire whom he accused of corruption and to the sport itself.

The Grand Slam Committee responded by reducing his fines by $15,000 and relaxing his two-tournament suspension.

“This should close the books,” Babcock said. “It’s been a tough process. I think we have what is proper: an apology to an official and the game, and no financial hardship for the player. I think it’s the right result, and hopefully the final result.”

Tarango shocked the tennis world when he stormed off the court during a third-round match against Alexander Mronz after a dispute with French chair umpire Bruno Rebeuh.

Tarango called Rebeuh “the most corrupt official in the game” and accused him of showing favoritism to certain players in exchange for their friendship.

On top of that, Tarango’s French wife, Benedicte, slapped Rebeuh twice in the face.

Tarango was fined $15,500 at the time of the outburst. In August, the Grand Slam Committee found Tarango guilty of conduct contrary to the integrity of the game and imposed an additional fine of $28,256 for a total of $43,756.