Tennis Match-Fixing: Serbian Player Banned 24 Years as ATP Proposes Player Welfare Reforms

Tennis took a hard line on corruption this month while also moving to support its players. A Serbian player received one of the toughest bans the sport has ever handed out, and the ATP Tour proposed a set of reforms aimed at player welfare.

A 24-Year Ban

Serbian player Stefan Milićević has been banned for 24 years for fixing matches and recruiting other players into a "corrupt network." His suspension runs until 2050, making it one of the most severe punishments in the sport outside of a lifetime ban.

The length reflects the seriousness of the case. Fixing your own matches is bad enough; drawing others into a corruption ring is treated as far worse because it spreads the damage across the sport.

Why Match-Fixing Targets the Lower Levels

Most match-fixing cases happen far from the spotlight, at smaller events where players earn little prize money and betting markets still exist. That financial pressure makes lower-ranked players more vulnerable to approaches from criminal networks. Tennis' integrity officials have focused heavily on these levels for years.

The ATP's Proposed Reforms

At the same time, the ATP Tour proposed several rule changes designed to help players:

• Player welfare measures to protect physical and mental health.
• Additional compensation for players.
• Enhanced pension and retirement benefits.

These changes matter most for the players ranked outside the top tier, who often struggle to cover travel, coaching and training costs. Better pay and benefits also make players less vulnerable to the kind of corruption seen in the Milićević case.

The Rankings Connection

A player's ranking decides which tournaments they can enter and how much they can earn, which is why the gap between the top and bottom of the sport is so wide. Our guide to ATP and WTA rankings explains how the system works, and our explainer on electronic line calling covers another way technology is changing the sport.

Elsewhere in Tennis

On the court, Novak Djokovic is chasing his 103rd title; read about his Swiss Indoors bid. Off the court, Elina Svitolina and Gaël Monfils announced their separation; see our story on the Svitolina-Monfils split.

Follow every development in our tennis coverage.