tennis

Brazilian player apologizes for offensive gesture in Japan

Published Sep. 16, 2017 11:58 a.m. ET

OSAKA, Japan (AP) Brazilian tennis player Guilherme Clezar has apologized for an offensive gesture during a Davis Cup match against Japan.

The International Tennis Federation said Saturday it fined Clezar $1,500 for ''unsportsmanlike conduct.''

The 24-year-old Clezar appeared to deliberately stretch his eyes after he had successfully challenged a line call during his singles match on Friday with Yuichi Sugita.

In a post on the Facebook page of the Brazil Tennis Federation, Clezar said he ''never had the slightest intention to be aggressive, racist, prejudiced.''

Sugita won the match 6-2, 7-5, 7-6 (5) as Japan took a 2-0 lead over Brazil in their World Group playoff in Osaka.

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