BuzzFeed News and the BBC charge “widespread match fixing by players at the upper level of the tennis world” in the new investigative report titled The Tennis Racket.
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He saved the first but put a forehand into the net on the second to go behind 4-5.
Federer won a lightning-quick, 23-minute opening set and never looked back.
Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis said he had been targeted through social media, while a British former Davis Cup player said he was once offered an envelope stuffed with cash to throw a match. “I think I was able to stay in it and stay calm today and I think that’s what matters most”.
In beating Basilashvili in one hour and 12 minutes, Federer extended his streak of Grand Slam tournaments at which he won at least one match to 51.
“I’m really pleased with how I was able to play. Actually tougher than maybe top-10 players”, he said. The two players will be facing each other for first time on professional tour.
Meanwhile world number one and defending champion Novak Djokovic marched imperiously into the second round of the Australian Open with a dominant 6-3 6-2 6-4 victory over Chung Hyeon on Monday.
Grand Slam champions are among a core group of 16 players link to match-fixing, an investigative report asserts. Tennis enthusiasts can also follow the year’s first grand slam #AusOpen with free live streaming available via WatchESPN and Australian Open Live.
“Had some practice sessions together there, this year and last year, I know him (Dolgopolov) very well”, Federer said as quoted on the official website of the Australian Open 2016.
“I’m feeling much better than in Brisbane”.
“When you’re out there, it’s not about money”, Sharapova, the victor of the 2008 Australian Open, added.
The BBC and BuzzFeed allegations were based on files they reported had been leaked “from inside the sport” showing evidence of suspected match-fixing orchestrated by gambling syndicates in Russian Federation and Italy that had been uncovered during an ATP investigation of a 2007 match in Sopot, Poland, involving suspiciously high levels of betting.
The sole tennis players caught in match-fixing by now are Daniel Kollerer from Austria and Alexandros Jakupovic from Greece.
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Federer commenced the 2016 tennis season with Brisbane International.
