The 2025 Italian Open drew widespread criticism for a “disgraceful” scheduling decision that left Casper Ruud and Jaume Munar stranded during their fourth-round match on May 13, 2025, at Foro Italico. Torrential rain disrupted the day’s play, delaying high-profile matches like Daniil Medvedev vs. Lorenzo Musetti and Carlos Alcaraz vs. Karen Khachanov. While organizers managed to reschedule some matches on covered courts, they controversially chose not to move Ruud and Munar’s match from the rain-soaked Grand Stand Arena, where it was slated to follow Tommy Paul vs. Alex de Minaur. Instead, the players were kept waiting until after 11 p.m., when ATP rules prohibit starting new matches, forcing a postponement to 2 p.m. on May 14.
The decision, blasted by former WTA star Coco Vandeweghe on Tennis Channel, was labeled “absolutely disgraceful” for undermining player welfare. “They could’ve shifted it to another court, but they left Ruud and Munar hanging, impacting their recovery,” Vandeweghe said. The scheduling blunder gave Jannik Sinner, who beat Francisco Cerundolo 7-6(2), 6-3 on May 13, a full rest day before facing the Ruud-Munar winner in the quarter-finals, fueling accusations of bias toward the Italian No. 1. Ruud, the Madrid Open champion, ultimately won 6-3, 6-4, but the ordeal left him with less preparation time against Sinner, who holds a 3-0 head-to-head edge.
Fans and analysts on X vented their frustration, with one calling it “a shameful way to treat players,” and another noting, “Sinner gets a free pass while Ruud or Munar are rushed.” The controversy, covered by Tennis365 and Express.co.uk, also angered night-session ticket holders, who faced unsafe conditions and no refunds. The decision highlighted logistical failures, as available courts like Pietrangeli were underutilized. Munar, a clay specialist, was particularly disadvantaged, unable to leverage his momentum from a 6-4, 7-5 upset over Karen Khachanov. The incident reignited debates about tournament scheduling fairness, with comparisons to past controversies, like the 2023 US Open’s handling of rain delays, underscoring the need for better contingency plans to protect players and fans alike.
