More Match Fixing Allegations from L'Equipe

[Wittmann 44]

More allegations of dodgy betting in tennis. The unnamed players are possibly Goldstein and Llodra who have come out in public recently about approacvhes made to them to throw matches. From L'Euipe France



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Match-fixing, some of which is linked to internet gambling, is not uncommon in professional tennis, according to a damaging report in L'Equipe on Thursday.


Two elite players made the claims, under anonymity, in an interview with the French sports daily claiming they have witnessed matches being "thrown" and that they had personally been offered bribes.
The allegations come in the wake of the controversy surrounding Russia's Nikolay Davydenko, who is the subject of an ATP enquiry.
Davydenko recenty pulled out a match injured on the same day that large sums of money had been bet on his defeat to Argentina's Martin Vassallo Arguello.


Betfair, an internet gambling website, refused to pay out on Davydenko's defeat. Seven million dollars in wagers, 10 times more than normal for such a match, swung to Arguello even after Davydenko won the first set.
The unnamed sources in L'Equipe's report called on the sport's authorities to act, "before things get out of hand".


"I know several players who have been approached, and who had the exact same experience as me," said one player, identified only as Mister B and who claimed he had been approached physically by someone offering him 50,000 dollars to lose a match.


He added: "Not for one second did I believe it was a joke. 50,000 dollars is more than what I would have got for getting to the semi-final in this tournament, and it was tax-free cash.


"I refused his offer straight away, but I was left wondering what direction we're going in."


The other player, identified as Mister A, said the availability of internet terminals in the players lounges has given rise to tennis coaches gambling on matches.


"If you look on the internet terminals in the players' lounges you will see that the gambling sites are very popular. I think that about 60-80 percent of coaches are betting," said Mister A.


"I personally know a lot of guys who are internet betting."
Mister A said he believes he has seen a Master match "being thrown", but admitted: "I've seen matches being thrown, and not just in the smaller tournaments, I've seen one in the Masters for example.
"But it's difficult to say whether it's linked to internet betting."

[Peter Orchard]

I have to say, Wittmann: so what?

The Davydenko-Arguelles (whatever his name is) was orchestrated by people who took money from other people who should have known better. They were ignorant then and their greed will ensure that they know nothing next time either.

The Montanes match the next day, for example, was even more comical. If you don´t do your homework, you won´t win money. Listen to the lambs bleating at Betting Advice, for example, and you realise that your money on the other side of the scale is pretty much assured

Tennis matches are contests between two people who may or may not have the same agendas as the people who support (or oppose) them with cash and you can never exclude that fact that the way to analysis includes all factors that may affect the outcome and should never ignore the absurd.

I, for one hope they don´t exclude tennis as an investment form. Even the Labadze era was workable so long as your parameters include everything and exclude nothing.

Bottom line is: It´s far easier for a tennis player to throw a match and very difficult for a footballer to do the same. The analyses in one on one sports should always carry a health warning for the naiive

[Computer Guy]

Originally Posted by Peter Orchard

Listen to the lambs bleating at Betting Advice, for example,

post the full url please so people know where it is

[Peter Orchard]

everyone knows where BA is, CG.
Buit more people know where the Betfair forum is where most of the bleating came from and the example I should preferably have used.
But I expect you know where both these places are, CG and don´t need my guidance. Do you?

[Wittmann 44]

I have to say, Wittmann: so what?

So I thought it might be interesting thats what .

If you know anything about tennis at all you should know certain matches should be swerved like a steaming pile of dog turd when you're out in your new hush puppies.

What is new is that the powers that be might be forced into action. I stress might

[Peter Orchard]

Let´s not have any misunderstandings here, Wittmann.
I appreciate your posting the article and my "so what" comment wasn´t meant in any negative way.

So what if tennis matches are fixed? So what? If you know anything at all about tennis you´ll know certain matches should be swerved like a steaming................


You´ll know that some tennis players are up for certain events as you´ll know that some players will give you value....etc, etc etc....

When you put your money down you´re assumed to have done your homework.
No offence. The article is appreciated.

[Wittmann 44]

I'm touchy tonight Peter - have given back in the last two days over 1/2 of what I made in the last two months. Lost a 4 figure sum on Dementieva just now - could have hedged out when she broekback and lost 1/3rd but kept in.

Have stuck another lump on Tim Henman which shows how desperate I am .

Have also picked up the client from hell at work to boot

[Peter Orchard]

I feel for you, Wittmann, but don´t worry, you´ll be back up again in no time.

[Dublin]

Whatever about coaches, you'd have to suspect media people on this as well.