After a string of unsettling crowd incidents involving players like Alex de Minaur and Jakub Mensik, the Italian Open has issued a firm statement addressing the growing problem of live betting interference during matches.
The tournament organizers, alarmed by repeated player complaints, made it clear that disruptive behavior linked to in-person gamblers will not be tolerated going forward.
Alex de Minaur, Jakub Mensik, and Clara Tauson Halt Play to Address Unruly Spectator Behavior
The controversy came to a head this past weekend at the 2025 Italian Open in Rome, where multiple top players were forced to break focus and call out spectators for rowdy and targeted distractions during their matches. With stakes high in one of the ATP and WTA’s biggest clay-court events, the behavior from the stands crossed the line, prompting players, officials, and now tournament leadership to take a public stand.
One of the most notable confrontations came from Australia’s Alex de Minaur during his second-round match against local wildcard Luca Nardi. De Minaur, who won the match in straight sets 6-4, 7-5, paused play during the critical second set at 4-4 after repeated heckling from a member of the crowd.
Frustrated and visibly distracted, he appealed to the chair umpire mid-point, who later called for increased security. The 26-year-old managed to compose himself and close out the match.
In a similar vein, Czech tennis star Jakub Mensik also faced an unruly audience during his third-round battle with Fabian Marozsan. As Mensik tried to maintain control at 6-4, 3-3 (30-15), he was thrown off by mocking jeers from the crowd after an unforced error.
He responded angrily, motioning toward the stands and then voicing his concerns directly to the umpire. Despite the distraction, he stayed focused and ultimately sealed the victory in straight sets.
Even in the women’s draw, Danish player Clara Tauson had a sharp exchange with a male spectator who cheered after she double-faulted during her hard-fought three-set loss to seventh seed Mirra Andreeva.
Italian Open director Paolo Lorenzi Issues Firm Statement on Disruptive Spectator Behavior
In response to these escalating disturbances, tournament director Paolo Lorenzi issued an official statement on behalf of the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation (FITP), denouncing the influence of “live” bettors—those who place in-the-moment bets while watching matches courtside.
“The phenomenon of ‘live’ bettors on tennis courts, as on other competition sites in other sports, has long been monitored by our Federation with the utmost attention,” Lorenzi said in the statement, which was translated from Italian.
While acknowledging that gambling is legal for adults, Lorenzi emphasized that its presence has no place near the court. He added:
“Our Federation will further implement the controls already in place… and ensure that the people identified as responsible for disruptive activities never have the opportunity to set foot in a facility hosting a federal event again.”
