Italian umpire "immediately dismissed" from Challenger for conduct

The ATP has confirmed Italian umpire Gianluca Moscarella has been suspended pending an investigation into his conduct during a Challenger in Florence, Italy.

Moscarella was heard on camera apparently urging one of the players to win, saying, among other things, "Stay focused... should be 6-1, 6-1, you had 45 break points."

The umpire was also heard making repeated suggestive remarks to a ballgirl.

The ATP said in a statement that Moscarella was "immediately dismissed" from the Challenger event "when the matter was brought to light, and a full investigation has been initiated.''

The umpire has been provisionally suspended pending the findings of the investigation and will not be working any ATP or Challenger events as a "contracted ATP official" until it is complete, added the ATP.

Moscarella is a gold badge umpire, the highest level of ITF certification for international umpires.

The ATP recently fired umpire Damian Steiner for giving numerous unauthorized interviews, which officials are not allowed to do. In 2018, umpire Mohammed Layhani was suspended for two events for a pep talk given to Nick Kyrgios during the US Open.

No further description was provided of the events under investigation.