Alcaraz ‘frustrated’ with the referee despite winning the Japan Open 2025
Carlos Alcaraz ended the Japan Open 2025 with a decisive victory, yet the final was marked by a dispute between him and referee Fergus Murphy.
Alcaraz’s frustration with the referee at the Japan Open 2025
At Ariake Coliseum on the afternoon of September 30th (Vietnam time), the world’s top-ranked player beat Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-4, quickly avenging his recent loss to the American at the Laver Cup just over a week ago.
The tension escalated when Alcaraz was penalized by the chair umpire for exceeding the time limit between points. After a lengthy rally that left him exhausted, the Spanish player wanted a few extra seconds to recover his breath, but Murphy denied the request. Frustrated, Alcaraz approached the umpire’s chair and challenged him: "Do you consider this normal? I just had to sprint to the net, I’m exhausted and didn’t get time to ask for a ball. How can this be normal?"
Alcaraz argued with the referee during the Japan Open 2025 final
When the ruling was not reversed, Alcaraz became more forceful: "You have never played tennis in your life and yet you say this is normal." His words heated the match’s atmosphere, but the 22-year-old’s resilience quickly surfaced. He regained his composure and finished the match with a skillful drop shot, a familiar hallmark of his playing style.
Winning the title in Tokyo gave Alcaraz his 8th ATP trophy of the 2025 season and the 24th overall in his career. More importantly, he continued to solidify his world No.1 position, adding another achievement following his major wins at Roland Garros and the US Open.
After the match, Alcaraz openly shared his pride: "This is definitely my best season yet. Eight titles, ten finals – these numbers reflect relentless dedication. I had a rough start to the year, facing many mental hurdles, so I’m very proud of my comeback. I’m also thankful to my team for always standing by me."
The dispute with the referee may have been a brief incident, but the Japan Open victory highlighted Alcaraz’s determination and growth, as he increasingly confirms himself as the new symbol of global tennis.
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