Suspicious betting alerts rise in third quarter

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) reported 22 suspicious betting alerts in the third quarter of 2026, up from 10 in the second quarter of the same year. This increase marks more than a doubling but still remains below the 26 alerts recorded during the same period in 2025.

Distribution of suspicious alerts

Of the 22 alerts, 13 involved matches on the men's ITF M15 circuit, making up 59% of the total. Three alerts were related to women's W15 tournaments, while two each involved the men's M25 circuit and Challenger 50 tournaments. One alert concerned an ATP 250 match, and another an ITF W35 match.

Clarification on suspicious betting

The ITIA emphasized that a suspicious betting movement does not prove match manipulation. Anomalies can be explained by factors such as rating errors, information on a player's physical condition, or unusual circumstances. The agency reviews reports from betting operators and may start a confidential investigation if evidence suggests fraud.

Context for M15 tournament prevalence

The high number of alerts related to M15 tournaments does not necessarily mean higher corruption. Lower-level competitions include many matches, increasing the likelihood of anomalies appearing more frequently, even if the actual risk of manipulation is similar across levels.

Anti-doping efforts continue

In the third quarter, the ITIA collected 2,150 samples through surprise anti-doping tests in 51 countries. This figure represents the total number of samples collected, not the number of unique tests conducted.