NEW YORK -- Fabio Fognini was suspended from the US Open on Saturday and faces a possible permanent ban from Grand Slam tournaments while it is determined if he committed a "major offense" during his first-round singles loss.
Fognini also could be fined up to $250,000 for violations of the Grand Slam's code of conduct.
The Grand Slam board said Fognini's provisional suspension went into effect immediately, so he was withdrawn from the doubles tournament, where he was into the third round with fellow Italian Simone Bolelli.
Fognini was fined $24,000 by the US Open for unsportsmanlike conduct during his 6-4, 7-6 (8), 3-6, 6-0 loss to Stefano Travaglia on Wednesday. He was cited by the tournament for three violations, including one incident in which he insulted a female chair umpire, calling her a whore in Italian. His fines were for $15,000, $5,000 and $4,000.
The board said the major offenses were under the sections of Article IV dealing with "aggravated behavior" and "conduct contrary to the integrity of the game." Violation of either section could lead to the permanent suspension from the four major tournaments and the $250,000 penalty.
The board said there would be no further comment until the process is completed.
Fognini, known as a volatile player, was fined $27,500 by Wimbledon in 2014 for his outbursts during a first-round victory.
Fognini is ranked No. 26 in singles and was seeded 22nd here. He also was the Australian Open doubles champion with Bolelli in 2015.
Fognini could be suspended for an indefinite period from Grand Slam play, but he might still be free to play ATP or ITF events (like Davis Cup) if those two latter organizations choose not to honor the suspension. There is no reciprocity agreement between the Grand Slam board, the ITF and the ATP regarding suspensions issued by any of the agencies, although they do all honor doping-offense suspensions.
Last fall, Nick Kyrgios was suspended by the ATP for eight tournament weeks ending Jan. 15, but the ITF allowed Kyrgios to play in a January Hopman Cup event anyway. The lack of reciprocity cuts both ways. Swiss player Yann Marti was suspended for four months in June of 2016 for committing the Major Offense of Aggravated Behavior, but he played in the Gstaad ATP tournament less than a month later.
The ATP and ITF will watch and wait for the determination of the Grand Slam board, then decide how to react.
"We're positioned to look at whether not to take action based on the decision taken by the Grand Slam board," Nick Imision, ITF Manager for External Communications, told ESPN.com.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.