A shocking revelation has surfaced as the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has handed down severe punishments to multiple players after uncovering their involvement in a vast match-fixing network. This extensive investigation has disclosed the breach of the ITIA Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP) by several individuals, who will now face stern reprimands, including two lifetime bans.
Mexican tennis player Alberto Rojas Maldonado, Guatemalan player Christopher Díaz Figueroa, along with José Antonio Rodríguez Rodríguez, Antonio Ruiz Rosales and Orlando Alcántara Rangel from Mexico, are the latest to be sanctioned in this sweeping crackdown. These measures are a part of the fallout from the apprehension of a notorious figure in the tennis underworld, Grigor Sargsyan, often referred to as the orchestrator of the largest match-fixing ring in the sport’s history.
Grigor Sargsyan, who was the ringmaster of a Belgian syndicate that distorted the outcomes of tennis matches, has recently been convicted. Awarded a five-year prison sentence, Sargsyan’s criminal actions were laid bare following a collaborative mission between ITIA and the Belgian authorities. Reports by the Washington Post have painted Sargsyan as a meticulous architect of corruption, having recruited over 180 professional tennis players from across the globe since 2018.
In a stark example of the severity of these violations, the crackdown reveals that Maldonado, who achieved an ATP singles ranking of 992 in 2015, was guilty of 92 breaches of the TACP—the second-highest number for an individual to date. Not only did he engage in match-fixing, but he also played a central role in corrupting fellow players. As a result, Maldonado is now permanently banned from participating in professional tennis and is ordered to pay a fine of $250,000.
Christopher Díaz Figueroa, who once reached the 326th spot in ATP singles rankings in 2011, faces a similar fate. Previously sanctioned with a three-year suspension for match-fixing, Figueroa’s recurrent misdemeanors have led to a lifetime ban and a fine of $75,000 after being found responsible for 13 TACP breaches.
The repercussions continue as Mexico’s José Antonio Rodríguez, with a peak ranking of 1,367, receives a 12-year suspension and a $25,001 fine for eight instances of corrupt activities. Antonio Ruiz Rosales, whose highest ranking was 652, now has a decade-long ban and a $30,000 fine imposed upon him for seven TACP breaches. Lastly, the verdict against Orlando Alcántara Rangel includes a two-year suspension and a $10,000 fine in response to his two violations. Rangel’s highest ATP singles ranking was 1,735 in 2015.
Under these bans, all implicated players are prohibited from competing in, coaching at, or even attending any tennis events sanctioned by ITIA members. This strips them of participation in tournaments organized by the ATP, ITF, WTA, and those as prestigious as the Grand Slams—Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, US Open—as well as any national association events.
Earlier this month, the ITIA had delivered a similar verdict to seven Belgian players found to be complicit with Sargsyan’s match-fixing syndicate. The implicated Belgian players included names such as Arnaud Graisse, Arthur de Greef, Julien Dubail, Romain Barbosa, Maxime Authom, Omar Salman, and Alec Witmeur. Out of these, Witmeur, de Greef and Barbosa had already been placed under provisional suspension since May 2021.
This notorious scandal has sent shockwaves throughout the tennis community, underscoring the hidden perils that threaten the integrity of the sport. The ITIA continues to express its unwavering commitment to eradicating corruption and upholding the fairness and honor that define the game of tennis.
