Serbian tennis player Stefan Milicevic has been handed a 24-year ban from the sport after being found responsible for orchestrating a match-fixing network involving professional players, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced on Thursday.
The 29-year-old was found to have fixed six matches, including five in which he participated, and attempted to manipulate the results of six additional matches between 2022 and 2024, according to the ITIA.
The investigation also established that Milicevic recruited, or attempted to recruit, several professional players into the corrupt operation. The agency said the network’s activities resulted in further match-fixing violations involving other players.
In its statement, the ITIA said Milicevic faced charges related to recruiting professional players as part of the network, with those efforts leading to additional offences under tennis’s anti-corruption rules.
24-Year Suspension and $70,000 Fine
Alongside the lengthy suspension, Milicevic has been fined $70,000 (approximately 62,400 euros). The ITIA said the player did not engage with or cooperate with the investigation.
Milicevic’s career-high ATP singles ranking was 1,338, placing him outside the top tier of professional men’s tennis.
The 24-year suspension carries wide-ranging restrictions. During the ban, Milicevic is prohibited from playing, coaching or attending events organised or sanctioned by the sport’s leading governing bodies and tournament organisers.
These restrictions cover the ATP, WTA, the Grand Slam tournaments, World Tennis and national tennis associations.
Ban to Remain in Force Until October 2050
According to the ITIA, Milicevic’s suspension is scheduled to expire on October 8, 2050. The duration of the ban effectively sidelines him from organised professional tennis for more than two decades.
Match-fixing remains a major concern for tennis authorities, which have strengthened their integrity monitoring and enforcement measures to protect the fairness of competition.
The case highlights the ITIA’s continued efforts to investigate corruption involving individual players and organised networks. By imposing a lengthy suspension and financial penalty, the agency has sought to address both the alleged manipulation of match outcomes and the recruitment of other players into corrupt activities.
