I know that they can be fined for not attending a press conference, and I read somewhere that at the Olympic Games 2012, tennis players (if not other athletes as well) will be given a fine of 20 000 dollars. What's the logic behind this? Why should someone be forced to talk to the press?
No as he sent his support coach
It's part of their contract. The sponsors want more exposure and the sport wants more coverage. If the players are happy to take the prize money (even for losing 1st round) then they have to fulfill their part of the contract.
Sports want exposure. The more people who watch them, the more money they make. If no one talks to the press, the press will stop covering the event. If the press stops covering the event, the sport loses exposure, which means less money.
The ATP World Tour has over 1,900 players in its singles ranking list. The vast majority of them will never be approached by someone in the press, because the press only wants to glorify the lucky few who've made it to the top. The press people don't want to discourage kids by teaching them the reality that becoming a top 100 player is sort of like winning the lottery. Heaven forbid! On the other hand, if you're among the very, very blessed people who've become top-30 Commitment players, then from ATP's point of view [or WTA's point of view] you OWE them for the money and fame you've been allowed to achieve. A long time ago, there was a famous baseball manager, Connie Mack, who said this: The sporting world was created and is kept alive by the press. And so, your contract requires that you talk to the press, even if you've just been destroyed love and love by the world champion. It's unpleasant, of course, but that's part of the job. In Andre Agassi's book Open, he described a few instances in which he skipped the press conference, without regretting the fine he had to pay. I guess if you own your own business jet, you can make your own rules, at least to a certain extent.
