MELBOURNE, Jan 24: Germany’s Nicolas Kiefer has been slapped with a US$3,000 fine for unsportsmanlike conduct, to go on top of an earlier US$2,000 ticket.

The 21st seed was cited for mouthing obscenities in his fourth round victory over Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela on Monday.

He had already been fined US$2,000 for obsenities earlier in the tournament.

So far 27 men have run into trouble with the tournament referee here with American Alex Bogomolov copping the highest penalty – US$4,500 for verbal abuse and obscene language.

The ninth seed had a heated exchange with Chile’s Fernando Gonzalez in their first round match.

He could have been fined the maximum US$12,500 dollars for verbal abuse but this has only been enfored twice - on John McEnroe at Wimbledon in 1991 and on fellow American Jeff Tarango four years later, also at Wimbledon.

The women have been much better behaved at Melbourne Park, with just four of them running foul of the rule book.

Argentina’s Paola Suarez was the latest, being fined US$1000 after her coach offered advice from the stands, which is banned. The fine was reduced to US$500 on appeal.—AFP