Is Tennis Rigged?

In recent times, most major sports have been touched by some kind of scandal. Whether it’s Barry Bonds, Michael Vick, or an NBA referee in debt to the mob, it seems that everyone is due their moment of infamy. Now it’s tennis’ turn. That’s right, I said tennis.

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

A few months ago, an online betting site (not Bodog, by the way) voided bets on a match due to irregular betting patterns. As luck would have it, the much higher-ranked player involved in that match withdrew in the third set due to a “foot injury.” Things that make you go, “Hmmmm.” By the way, the winnings on the match amounted to over $6 million!

Since that time, players have come forward and admitted to being approached about throwing matches. Gilles Elseneer of Belgium claims to have turned down in excess of $100,000 to lose a match to Potito Starace of Italy at the 2005 Wimbledon.

MURRAY SPEAKS OUT

Andy Murray, a Scottish player ranked in the Top-20, has now went public about the problems in the tennis world.

"It's difficult to prove if someone has tanked a match or not tried because they can try their best until the last couple of games of each set and then make some mistakes, a couple of double-faults, and that's it," Murray said. "It's pretty disappointing for all the players, but everyone knows it goes on."

WHAT’S BEING DONE?

The ATP, International Tennis Federation, WTA Tour and Grand Slam Committee are all joining forces to come up with unified regulations to combat match tampering. A “Tennis Integrity Unit” is also being set up to look into the issue.

According to ITF director Bill Babcock, “Tennis is vulnerable. We have to keep the integrity of the matches. I think we have that, but we have this looming cloud now that we have to dissipate.”

Is Tennis Rigged?