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Marta Mrozinska | |
|---|---|
| Born | Poland |
| Occupation | Tennis umpire |
Marta Mrozinska is a polish professional tennis umpire known for officiating at high-level WTA and ATP tournaments. She has been involved in several significant matches throughout her career, including some controversial moments that gained widespread media attention. [1]
Mrozinska has served as a chair umpire in numerous international tennis tournaments, overseeing matches featuring top-ranked players. She has been part of the WTA's officiating team and has contributed to the development of officials through various training programs. As part of the WTA Development and Promotional Program for Officials, which has been running for over a decade, she has played a role in mentoring and training aspiring umpires. [2]
During the 2018 Italian Open, Marta Mrozinska was involved in a highly publicized incident in a match between Karolína Plíšková and Maria Sakkari. A controversial line call, which was not overruled by Mrozinska, led to Plíšková losing an important point in the deciding set of the match. Plíšková, visibly frustrated, argued with the umpire but received no change in the call.
After the match ended in Sakkari's victory, Plíšková refused to shake Mrozinska's hand and instead aggressively smashed her racket multiple times against the umpire's chair, creating a hole in it. The act of protest was widely shared on social media and covered extensively in sports news outlets, bringing further attention to the challenges faced by umpires in high-stakes matches. [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]
Following the incident, Plíšková was fined a four-digit amount for her actions. The controversy sparked discussions about the role of umpires, the pressures they face in crucial matches, and whether players should have more options to challenge officiating decisions. [6]
In March 2025, Marta Mrozinska served as the chair umpire during a high-profile quarterfinal match between Alexander Bublik and Corentin Moutet at the Arizona Tennis Classic, an ATP Challenger Tour event held in Phoenix, Arizona.
The match ended with a narrow win for Bublik, 2–6, 7–6(4), 7–5, but it was the post-match confrontation that drew international attention. After the handshake at the net, tensions escalated as Moutet appeared angered by a comment from Bublik.
Bublik then appeared to challenge Moutet with the words "You want to meet outside? Let’s go", and the situation nearly turned physical. [8]
Marta Mrozinska stepped down from her chair and helped to physically separate the players, working alongside a tournament supervisor to de‑escalate the confrontation. [9]
This incident drew rare international attention for a post-match umpire intervention in professional tennis. Despite the confrontation, Bublik advanced to the final (losing to João Fonseca), while Mrozinska’s composed and firm handling of the dispute was widely noted by media and commentators. [10] [11] [12]
Mrozinska has been recognized for her contributions to the development of tennis officiating. She has been involved in programs aimed at improving officiating standards and mentoring new officials. Through her work with the WTA Development and Promotional Program for Officials, she has played a significant role in shaping the next generation of umpires and ensuring consistency in officiating across professional tournaments. [2]
