Talk of Efforts to Fix Matches Rattles Pro Tennis

[babylonsister]

Another tainted sport?


Talk of Efforts to Fix Matches Rattles Pro Tennis
Lionel Cironneau/Associated Press

A loss by Nikolay Davydenko is the subject of an inquiry.


By JOE DRAPE
Published: November 25, 2007

As the venerable Davis Cup finals begin Friday in Oregon, tennis is mired in a widening gambling scandal in which at least a dozen ranked players have said they have been asked to throw matches or have heard of similar approaches to others.

The players have volunteered their stories in the wake of an investigation of Nikolay Davydenko of Russia, the world’s No. 4 player, because of betting patterns during a loss in Poland in the summer. Mr. Davydenko, who has refused to turn over phone records, has since denied any wrongdoing.

The allegations, from journeymen and highly ranked players, have built quietly as individuals on the men’s tour talked to newspapers and broadcast stations on different continents, but together they have massed into the worst crisis to ever hit the sport.

No players spoke to the Association of Tennis Professionals or the International Tennis Federation before going public. So 10 days ago, the ATP, which governs the rules and conducts 63 tournaments on the men’s tour, mandated that players and their entourages notify tennis officials within 48 hours about any information regarding gambling or match fixing.

On Nov. 10, the ATP suspended 124th-ranked Alessio Di Mauro of Italy for nine months and fined him $60,000 for gambling on 120 matches from November 2006 to June 2007 through an online account. Mr. Di Mauro faced a lifetime ban if the investigation had concluded he bet on his own matches or affected the outcome of a match.

Kris Dent, an ATP spokesman, also acknowledged that a “highly subjective” list of 140 suspicious matches dating from 2002 had been compiled by a European bookmaker and provided to investigators.

more...

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/25/sports/tennis/25tennis.html?ex=1353646800&en=cca4d9d35868162a&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

[ChiciB1]

1. Just Saw This... I'm A Huge Tennis Fan & This IS REALLY Disturbing!!

My son works for a famous woman tennis player and I was at her house on T-Day, but tennis wasn't the topic very much!

Recently I was so impressed with Novak Djocovic (Serbia) and his appearance at the U.S. Open, where he took 2nd against Federer. Have high hopes for this kid! Say it ain't so, or let it not be!!

Thanks for the post!

[babylonsister]

2. You're welcome! I thought there'd be more tennis fans out there.

Then again, maybe they're swatting a ball around as I type! ;-)

[ChiciB1]

3. I Noticed I Spelled Novak's Name Wrong... He's A Doll!

There are several "big name" tennis players who live in and around my county and I've always loved playing tennis myself. My daughter works for a doctor who has one of Maria Sharapova's vehicles because she represented another company. She works for a group of cardio-vascular doctors so I don't know WHY he got the car. I'm sure she didn't have heart surgery. But, they may run in the same circles.

I don't I know... my family are just the Go-Fers for wont of a better word! I noticed that Pete Sampras beat R. Federer recently in one of those "not so advertised" tournaments. Nadal beat him too! Djokovic also beat him before, so I'll be looking for good news about him.... IF THIS stuff doesn't hit the fan!!

Just thought I would add a little to this post!