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Tomic loses first-round money for subpar effort

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Tomic refuses to answer questions after performance vs. Tsonga (1:01)

Following his first-round loss, Bernard Tomic didn't offer much to reporters asking about his subpar performance. (1:01)

WIMBLEDON, England -- Australian tennis player Bernard Tomic was fined his full prize money of 45,000 pounds ($56,500) at Wimbledon on Thursday for not meeting "the required professional standards" in his first-round loss.

Tomic, a quarterfinalist in 2011, lost to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 on Tuesday in a match that lasted 58 minutes.

"It is the opinion of the Referee that the performance of Bernard Tomic in his first round match against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga did not meet the required professional standards," the All England Club said in a statement.

Tomic can appeal the decision.

After the loss, Tomic was asked if he was happy with the effort he put in.

"Next question, please," he answered.

He was later asked about being fined $15,000 at the All England Club in 2017 for saying during a news conference that he was "a little bit bored out there" after losing a match. That also cost him his racket sponsor at the time.

Tomic declined to answer.

Fines for a lack of effort are on the rise in tennis following the introduction of a performance rule in 2018 that aims to deter players who enter tournaments while injured from retiring during first-round matches.

American player Anna Tatishvili was fined $50,000 at this year's French Open after a 6-0, 6-1 loss to Maria Sakkari of Greece. Tatishvili, who has appealed, had been playing in her first competition since October 2017 because of an ankle injury.

Mischa Zverev was fined $45,000 at the 2018 Australian Open. He retired from his match against Hyeon Chung in the second set, citing a viral illness.

Injured players who withdraw before the tournament -- allowing someone who lost in qualifying to get into the draw -- receive half the amount of first-round prize money.

On Thursday, Tsonga said he respected the decision to fine Tomic but added that he felt like it devalued his win "a little bit."

Sloane Stephens, following her 6-0, 6-2 win over Wang Yafan, questioned the process of deciding fines based on perceived effort.

"I think now if the tournaments are going to be their own judge and say, like, and they're going to do that, then -- hmm. I can't say I'm 100% on board with that," Stephens said.

John Isner said he was OK with the fine given the Grand Slam stage, noting "It doesn't look good for our game."

Nick Kyrgios later said it was "a little rough" to take away all the money Tomic had earned by playing in the tournament.

"I don't agree with fining the guy all of his prize money,'' Kyrgios said after losing to Rafael Nadal in the second round. "He earned his right to be in the draw. He played the whole year. He's obviously winning enough to be at the most prestigious tournament in the world. To take all his prize money I think is outrageous."

Tomic was asked if he had any issues with his preparation for the match at Wimbledon.

"No," he said. "Just played terrible."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.