Luisina Giovannini received a 20.000-dólares fine from tournament organizers after retiring from her US Open qualifying match against Lucia Bronzetti after just 17 minutes on court, according to reports from TyC Sports and TN. The 19-year-old Argentine player, ranked 198th globally, faced the seventh-seeded Italian on Court 11 at Flushing Meadows on August 24 before stopping due to a left ankle injury while trailing 5-0 in the opening set.
The penalty significantly reduces the financial return from her appearance in New York. Having secured US$32.000 for entering the qualifying draw, the multa de US$20.000 fine accounts for more than 60 percent of that total, leaving her with US$12.000 in prize money, as detailed by TN.
Application of the First-Round Performance Rule
Tournament officials applied the “First-Round Performance” rule under Grand Slam regulations, which is designed to penalize competitors who fail to meet required professional standards during opening rounds, according to TyC Sports. The regulatory framework evaluates multiple factors before issuing a sanction, including whether a player completes the match, their recent match activity across preceding weeks, prior tournament withdrawals, or the utilization of a protected ranking.
During the brief encounter, which lasted a mere 17 minutes, Giovannini won only eight of the 29 points contested, while Bronzetti claimed 21 points on her way to a commanding 5-0 lead, as reported by TN and TyC Sports. Giovannini communicated her inability to continue to the chair umpire due to pain in her left ankle, which was heavily taped, and subsequently walked off the court.
Physical Status and Injury Context
Giovannini addressed her physical condition following the tournament, noting that she had been managing an ongoing issue prior to her arrival in New York. According to TyC Sports, her previous competitive appearance prior to the US Open took place two months earlier at Wimbledon. The administrative penalty reflects an evaluation of performance standards under Grand Slam rules rather than a formal determination that the injury was feigned.
Preparation for South American Competition
Following her return to South America, Giovannini turned her attention toward physical rehabilitation with an eye on upcoming regional events. She is currently training to represent Argentina at the Santa Fe 2026 South American Games, as reported by TN.
“I’ve been dealing with an injury for a while, so I’m recovering to be at 100 percent for the Games,” Giovannini said during an appearance on the streaming program Saque y Volea, as cited by TN. “I’m training as hard as possible, seeing how I feel to be in the best shape and represent Argentina in the best way.”
