Stephens salutes Tatishvili winning back RG19 money

Anna Tatishvili had an issue at Roland Garros. Then, after one round, she took issue with Roland Garros. Now, about seven weeks later later, she has resolution.

Not only did Tatishvili reclaim her prize money (approximately $51,500) having been found not at fault for a "lack of effort" charge and fine assessed in May in Paris. The 29-year-old also felt vindicated as to the status of her performance after returning to tour action after many months nursing ankle injuries and playing on a surface on which pivoting and movement are crucial variables.

"Competing professionally from the first to the very last point"—that part of the Grand Slam Board's response letter certainly struck her as affirming.

Tatishvili lost 6-0, 6-1 to Maria Sakkari in the French Open's first round. A statement from her vanquisher became part of her 40-page appeal, and the Grand Slam Board noted that she had faced an "in-form" foe in the May 28 match.

Further, Tatishvili found an ally in the case, even after the fact, in compatriot Sloane Stephens. Call it an exhortation-via-tweet.

"Thanks so much!!" Tatishvili responded to Stephens.

To be sure, this particular case will be watched closely, as it sets a substantial precedent. Case in point: At this year's Wimbledon, just one major event after Roland Garros, Bernard Tomic was fined the entire sum of his prize money after a similar charge following his first-round departure from singles competition.

Tomic also appealed his fine, but the Grand Slam Board's response was different: He will recoup 25 percent of his ephemeral winnings if he goes without a code violation at his next eight major events. The difference may be that he has a history of turning in such lackluster performances.

As with some other violations, it's likely that such a charge will not be assessed consistently across the four major tournaments. And certainly Tatishvili and perhaps Tomic also should not be singled out here. They are hardly alone in these allegations, as Nick Kyrgios and others have been docked paychecks, or portions of them, in past Grand Slam events for similar infractions.

As for Tatishvili's case, as they say, la fin.