CINCINNATI, Ohio -- No. 1 ranked Lleyton Hewitt was fined by the Association of Tennis Professionals on Tuesday for not completing a pre-tournament media commitment with the host broadcaster, in this case ESPN.

As a top 10 player, Hewitt will be fined $20,000 or half of his total prize money earned during the week at the Tennis Masters Series-Cincinnati, whichever is highest.

Hewitt's fine, which could be up to $229,750 if he were to win the singles and doubles titles, will go into the ATP's STARS program. It's the second major fine handed out by the ATP in the past two weeks. The ATP fined Andre Agassi $80,000 for a late withdrawal from the Tennis Masters Series-Canada. Part of Agassi's fine could go to the tournament organizers in Toronto and the rest would go into the ATP's general fund, according to the ATP.

Hewitt's fine is appealable to a committee of former ATP players.

"For sure," Hewitt told Reuters on Wednesday when asked if he would launch an appeal. "Yeah, and I plan to win it."

An ESPN spokesman said the network did not request that the ATP take action against Hewitt.

John McEnroe, Guy Forget and Hewitt's Davis Cup captain John Fitzgerald currently serve on the committee that would hear the appeal, although a new lineup could be in place by the time any appeal is filed.

The ESPN spokesman said Hewitt declined ESPN interview requests -- made through the ATP -- Sunday and Monday at the Tennis Master Series in Cincinnati. The ATP made a request again for an interview Tuesday. Hewitt said the ATP tried to force him to do an interview only minutes before his first round match, prompting Hewitt to consider pulling out of the tournament.

"If I am going to get fined for going out, what is the point of me going out to play?'' Hewitt said. "My head was actually spinning before I went out. I am surprised that I didn't do what (Robby Ginepri) did and miss every ball out there.''

Hewitt, 21, who also dodges the Australian media, said the ATP's request for a televised interview with ESPN before his match against Ginepri almost ruined his chances.

He went on to win 6-0, 6-0 in just 41 minutes.

"I have never, ever done an interview the day before I play a match," Hewitt said. "So this crap is going on and in the end I wasn't going to walk on court, simple as that."

Despite Hewitt's claims that the interview was a last minute request, sources in the ATP say the player was asked as early as last Wednesday, during the Masters Series event in Toronto.

Hewitt refused to do the interview there and had two further chances to comply on Sunday and Monday, but declined.

Under ATP rules, players must do interviews with the tournament's host broadcaster, in this case ESPN, as part of their commitments to the STARS program, which was created by the ATP player's council and is dedicated to promoting tennis.

On Wednesday, Hewitt told Reuters he is still unhappy about the situation and has tried to contact ATP chief executive Mark Miles to resolve the issue.

"Nothing has been resolved," added the reigning Wimbledon champion.