The Portuguese Carlos Ramos, the first in history to referee the four Grand Slam finals and the final of an Olympic Games, announced this Sunday the end of his career, after having been in the decisive match of the Estoril Open.
The most respected of the Portuguese referees and the first to complete the golden punch – refereed all four men’s finals Big leagues and the 2012 London Olympic Games-, chose the final of the only ATP tournament played in Portugal to referee their last match.
“My career began in Lisbon, Portugal, in the other version of the Estoril Open. It was normal and obvious that it would end at the Estoril Open. It ends, it is a page that is turned, with immense gratitude, with immense humility. Tennis and refereeing made me the person I am today”, assured Carlos Ramos, during the tribute paid to him by the organization, after the singles final, which consecrated the Norwegian champion Casper Ruud.
The 52-year-old Portuguese referee ends his career after participating in four Australian Open men’s finals (2005, 2008, 2014 and 2016), and one at Wimbledon (2007), Roland Garros (2008) and the US Open (2011). ).
In addition to the London 2012 men’s final and the Davis Cup final, he has also refereed women’s finals at Roland Garros (2005), Wimbledon (2008) and US Open (2018), as well as the Fed Cup.
“I am very grateful to tennis, to the Portuguese public. […] I couldn’t have dreamed of a better way to end my career as a chair umpire,” he said, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd that packed the Clube de Ténis do Estoril’s center court.
Carlos Ramos’ last match as referee was the Estoril Open final, in which Casper Ruud beat Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic with partials of 6-2, 7-6 (7-3), in one hour and 49 minutes.
Source: TSF
