An unnamed former tennis trader for a bookmaking company also told The Times that he suspected matches were fixed “on a regular basis, particularly towards the end of the season” because of irregular movements in the betting odds.
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MELBOURNE, Australia – Roger Federer wants names, and so do many others, after the start of the Australian Open was dominated by discussion of match-fixing and betting patterns instead of match-winning and baseline patterns.
The findings of the investigation by BuzzFeed News and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) were revealed on Monday as 2016’s first Major, the Australian Open, began at Melbourne Park. The players weren’t identified by name.
They were similar to the thoughts of 17-time grand slam victor Roger Federer, who said Monday he wanted names mentioned. “Then at least it’s concrete and you can actually debate it. Was it the player?”
On Monday, the TIU’s director of integrity Nigel Willerton said the body’s hands were tied in obtaining evidence because players and their support teams aren’t obliged to hand over, for instance, phone records and emails. Who was it? Was it before? “More than half” of the players, who include singles and doubles Grand Slam champions, are at the Australian Open in Melbourne, according to BuzzFeed. “So how high up does it go?”
“The TIU and the tennis authorities absolutely reject any suggestion that evidence of match fixing has been suppressed for any reason”.
But, it said, 16 out of the top 50 rankers had been repeatedly flagged to the TIU over suspicions that they had thrown matches in the past decade, but that none had been suspended, let alone banned.
The BBC said the group also included “winners of grand slam titles” but neither organisation named players, insisting it is not possible to determine whether they were personally taking part in match-fixing. Because I don’t believe the players are allowed to be sponsored by betting companies but then the tournaments are.
This just goes to prove that sadly no sport in the world is entirely free of corruption and criminals will find a way to taint the sanctity of sportsmanship, be it in the case of cricket, tennis or football.
He maintained that the unit investigates every report it receives and takes action only when it has enough evidence to do so.
Haase said he “maybe” played against someone who was throwing a match.
“We have built an worldwide reputation for the integrity of the tournament and the anti-corruption systems we have in place”, Tiley said in a statement.
Many of those punished have been lower-ranked players on the second-tier Challenger tour. The players said they have known the issue existed but they doubt any top players have been involved.
“We have, I think, a sport (that has) evolved and upgraded our programs and authorities to deal with these particular cases”, he said.
“If the players (were involved in match fixing), they should be punished really hard”. As long as it’s like that, it’s just speculation.
Serena Williams said she had never suspected match-fixing in any game she had played. “Knowing Djokovic I understand why he declined and, on the whole, I can not even imagine who would make him such offer”, he added. I think when people come with those sums of money when you’re that age, I think sometimes people can make mistakes.
“Of course, we threw it away right away. There was nothing out of it”.
The Australian Open organisers are also under pressure over a sponsorship deal with global betting giant William Hill, which is run by Tom Waterhouse in Australia.
“Honestly it’s on a borderline, I would say”, Djokovic said.
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Gilles Simon, a member of the Association of Tennis Professionals’ Player Council, said: “It is a bit like anti-doping – you feel like someone is dropping a bomb on the first day of a Slam”.
