Tennis to monitor match-fixing risks
The four major organisations involved in professional tennis insist their sport does not have a match-fixing problem and have announced plans for an independent analysis into the risk of players throwing matches.
The International Tennis Federation, the ATP, the WTA Tour and the Grand Slam Committee released a statement in response to the growing concern of corruption within the game.
The matter has hit the headlines in recent days after British number one Andy Murray suggested all the players “know it goes on”, comments he has since claimed were taken out of context.
The group of tennis organisations met in London and released a statement which read: “While we do not believe that our sport has a corruption problem, we do recognise that a threat to the integrity of tennis exists.
“We believe that an independent situation analysis of this risk is necessary and intend to utilise external expertise to assist us in conducting this analysis.”
Murray’s initial comments have drawn criticism from a number of fellow professionals – and earned him an appointment with the ATP – and Murray felt it was important to make his views totally clear.
“The comments that I made with regard to betting in tennis have been taken out of context and I would like to clarify them,”’ said a statement from 20-year-old on his website, www.andymurray.com.
“When I said ’Everyone knows that it’s going on’ I meant that everyone has probably heard that three or four players have spoken out about being offered money to lose matches – which they refused.
“I am glad that the tennis governing bodies are coming together to set up an anti-corruption unit to address this and I stand fully behind this effort.
“Tennis has been a part of my entire life and it is a privilege to compete at the highest levels of the sport.”
World number two Rafael Nadal had earlier questioned whether Murray really had any great knowledge of corruption.
“I doubt Murray knows more than anyone else – he’s gone overboard and there are no fixed games,” he said.
“I’ve been in all the meetings, I see what goes on on the circuit just like him and I’m not so stupid as to not know what is going on.”
Russian Nikolay Davydenko, who is at the centre of an ATP tour investigation into a match two months ago involving himself and Argentinian player Martin Vassallo Arguello where suspicious betting patterns emerged, was also dismissive of Murray’s earlier comments.
“It was folly of him to say this,” he said.
