Rome, May 19, 2025 — The world of tennis has been shaken by a surprising decision made by the organizers of the Italy Open. The main referee of the male final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner has been officially fired after an intervention of the ATP integrity body due to accusations of parties arrangement.
The 2025 Italian Open Final was a highly anticipated confrontation between two of the best players in the world.Carlos Alcaraz was crowned champion by beating the world number one, Jannik Sinner, with partials of 7-6 (5) and 6-1.This victory marked the first Alcaraz title in Rome and its seventh 1000 Masters, consolidating its position as one of the main contestants in the whipped earth season.
However, shortly after the party, rumors arose about possible irregularities in the performance of the main referee. Questionable decisions and unusual behaviors were reported that caught the attention of the Tournament officers and the ATP integrity agency.
The ATP integrity agency, in charge of maintaining transparency and ethics in professional tennis, initiated immediate investigation. After reviewing the recordings of the game and collecting testimonies of players and officers, it was determined that the referee in question had committed actions that committed the integrity of the meeting.
As a result, the decision was made to dismiss the referee officially and was forbidden to participate in future events organized by the ATP. Although all the details of the accusations have not been revealed, it is known that the integrity agency continues to investigate to determine if there were more people involved in the alleged party arrangement.
The news has generated a wave of reactions in the tennis community. Carlos Alcaraz expressed his surprise and disappointment: “It is unfortunate that something like this happens in our sport. I trust that the authorities will take the necessary measures to clarify the facts.”
For his part, Jannik Sinner, who recently returned to the competition after a doping suspension, said: “It is essential that transparency be investigated at all levels of tennis.”
This incident is not isolated. In recent years, several referees and players have been sanctioned by the ATP integrity agency for their involvement in cases of parties arrangement. These cases reflect a persistent problem in professional tennis and underline the need to strengthen supervision and control mechanisms to prevent corruption.
The dismissal of the referee in the final of the Italy Open is a forceful reminder of the challenges facing tennis in its fight against corruption. While the investigations continue, the tennis community expects justice to be done and that effective measures to protect the integrity of the sport will be implemented.
This scandal could mark a turning point in the way in which irregularities in tennis are addressed, and serve as a catalyst for significant reforms in the governance and supervision of sport.
