The 2025 Italian Open faced intense backlash over what former WTA star Coco Vandeweghe called an “absolutely disgraceful” decision to postpone the fourth-round match between Casper Ruud and Jaume Munar, originally scheduled for May 13, 2025, at Foro Italico. Heavy rainfall in Rome disrupted the day’s schedule, delaying matches like Daniil Medvedev vs. Lorenzo Musetti and Carlos Alcaraz vs. Karen Khachanov. Despite available courts, organizers opted not to relocate Ruud and Munar’s match from the Grand Stand Arena, where it was set to follow Tommy Paul vs. Alex de Minaur. Instead, they kept the players waiting until after 11 p.m. local time, when ATP rules prohibit starting new matches, before rescheduling it for 2 p.m. on May 14.
This late call sparked outrage, as it left Ruud and Munar unable to play to their full potential and recover adequately for the quarter-finals, where the winner would face a well-rested Jannik Sinner. Sinner, who defeated Francisco Cerundolo 7-6(2), 6-3 on May 13, benefited from a full rest day, prompting accusations of favoritism toward the Italian No. 1. Vandeweghe, on Tennis Channel, criticized the organizers, stating, “It should’ve been decided to move it to another court and keep these men on schedule. It’s disgraceful for their ability to play and recover.” Fans echoed her sentiments on X, with one writing, “Sinner’s opponent won’t have a day off—how convenient,” and another calling the treatment of night-session ticket holders “dangerous” and “ridiculous.”
Ruud, the Madrid Open champion, ultimately defeated Munar 6-3, 6-4 on May 14, extending his nine-match win streak. However, the scheduling fiasco overshadowed his performance, with critics arguing it disadvantaged both players, especially given Ruud’s 4-1 head-to-head lead over Munar and his clay prowess. The controversy, reported by Tennis365 and The Tennis Gazette, raised questions about tournament fairness, particularly as Sinner, unbeaten against both Ruud (3-0) and Munar (1-0), awaited in the quarter-finals. The incident highlighted ongoing concerns about player welfare and scheduling integrity at major tournaments.
