Hewitt fined by ATP for not giving interview

World number one Lleyton Hewitt launched a furious tirade against the ATP, the organisers of men's tennis, after they requested an interview only minutes before his first round match in the $2.95 million Cincinnati Masters on Tuesday.

The ATP said in a statement that they would be fining Hewitt either $20,000 or half of his prize money for the event, whichever amount is greater.

After the match Hewitt said: "I'm a bit surprised I was able to keep any balls in court considering the crap that was going on before the match."

The 21-year-old, who has a reputation for reticence with the media, said the ATP's request for a televised interview with ESPN before his match against Robby Ginepri almost ruined his chances of winning the contest.

He went on to win 6-0 6-0 in just 41 minutes.

"I have never, ever done an interview... before I play a match. So this crap is going on and in the end I wasn't going to walk on court, simple as that."

Despite Hewitt's claims that the interview was a last minute request, sources in the ATP say the player was asked as early as last Wednesday, during the Masters Series event in Toronto.

Hewitt refused to do the interview there and had two further chances to comply on Sunday and Monday, but declined.

Under ATP rules players must do interviews with the tournament's host broadcaster, in this case ESPN, as part of their commitments to the STARS programme.