World tennis was rocked on Monday by allegations that the game's authorities have failed to deal with widespread match-fixing, just as the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, kicked off in Melbourne.Tennis authorities rejected reports by the BBC and online BuzzFeed News, which said 16 players who have been ranked in the top 50 had been repeatedly flagged to the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) over suspicions they had thrown matches in the past decade.
The reports follow in the wake of corruption scandals in world soccer and athletics.
The BBC and BuzzFeed News said the TIU, set up to police illegal activities in tennis, either failed to act upon information that identified suspicious behaviour amongst players, or impose any sanctions.
All of the players, including winners of Grand Slam titles, were allowed to continue competing, while eight were playing in the Australian Open, the media reports added.
TIU director of integrity Nigel Willerton told reporters in Melbourne he would not comment on whether any players on the pro tour were under investigation, saying it would be inappropriate to do so.
"The Tennis Integrity Unit and the tennis authorities absolutely reject any suggestion that evidence of match fixing has been suppressed for any reason or isn't being thoroughly investigated," said ATP chairman Chris Kermode.
"When I'm playing, I can only answer for me, I play very hard, and every player I play seems to play hard," women's world number one Serena Williams told reporters.
"If that's going on, I don't know about it. You know, I'm kind of sometimes in a little bit of a bubble."
Men's world number seven Kei Nishikori of Japan added he had not heard of any incidence of match-fixing.
Kermode added he was disappointed the story had taken attention away from the tournament.
"We are confident that the Tennis Integrity Unit is doing what it can and tackles this issue very, very seriously," Kermode said.
TIU investigations had resulted in sanctions against 18 players, with six issued life bans, he added.
Kermode also rejected suggestions the TIU was under-resourced and did not have necessary enforcement powers.
Tennis authorities have pumped about $14 million into anti-corruption programmes, Kermode added.
Willerton said they could ask for players' electronic communication devices, though those requests could be refused.
Credit: Reuters
