American tennis player Mike Bryan was fined $10,000 for pointing his racket like a rifle at an official at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York City over the weekend, Fox News reported.
Bryan's gesture came after seven people were murdered and 22 were injured in a mass shooting in Odessa, Texas.
Bryan had successfully challenged the line judge's decision after replays on the big screen clearly showed that the ball had landed narrowly behind the baseline during a doubles match with his brother Bob, according to CNN.
After the ruling was corrected, Bryan mimicked a rifle with his racket and aimed it at the line judge in question.
U.S. Tennis Association spokesman Brendan McIntyre said in a statement, "We thought [Bryan's actions] warranted that amount" in a fine.
Bryan later apologized for his actions, saying, "the gesture was meant to be playful. But given the recent news and political climate I understand how my gesture could be viewed as insensitive. I promise that I will never do anything like this again."
The Bryans won the match in three sets.
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