Trouble-struck Naples event wants to return next season despite possible ATP fine

The ATP event in Naples is facing a fine from the ATP following repeated problems with the courts during the week, according to the president of the Italian tennis federation.

The tournament, being played for the first time and organized in only a few months as a substitute for canceled events on the schedule, also had problems with a player hotel and complaints about transport and organization.

The president of the Italian federation, Angelo Binaghi, told press that the ATP had wanted the tournament moved to Florence, which had also hosted a new event the week before Naples.

"The ATP asked me to move the tournament from Naples. I said no," said Binaghi. "Now the ATP will give us a nice fine."

But he also praised the tournament's seaside location and the crowd-pleasing all-Italian final between Matteo Berrettini and Lorenzo Musetti, saying the "good public showing" was a "sign we were right to bid for these tournaments in Italy."

Problems began before the start of the tournament on Thursday, when heavy rain caused damage to the hard courts that had been installed by Mapfei, leading some players to refuse to play on the surface upon arrival.

The qualifying event was shifted to another location 40 minutes away while the courts were resurfaced with Greenset, apparently brought in from Florence. The start of play was delayed on Monday, and even once underway, the evening sessions had to be stopped during the week because of humidity that caused the courts to become slippery.

In addition, doubles player Nicholas Barrientos wrote on social media that his luggage had been removed and left in front of his hotel room, also saying that he had already had to change hotels and getting to the courts was difficult.

The tournament organizer, Riccardo Villari, shared that he wrote to the ATP and had apologized, but said the tournament as a whole was "positive" and refunds had been offered to spectators.

While saying he would have used a different company for building the courts and had a single player hotel, he also noted that there were added challenges because of the tight schedule.

"We will be a candidate to have the ATP event again, unless we are prevented from doing so," said Villari.

The tournament was won by the 20-year-old Musetti, his second career title.