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How deep does the tennis match-fixing scandal go?

As the Australian Open gets underway in Melbourne, the wider tennis world is coming to terms with...



How deep does the tennis match...
Golf

How deep does the tennis match-fixing scandal go?

As the Australian Open gets underway in Melbourne, the wider tennis world is coming to terms with a BBC and BuzzFeed News investigation into alleged match-fixing in tennis. 

Simon Cox is an investigative reporter with the BBC World Service and was part of the team that broke the story. He spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning about how the news may affect the sport.

The report claims that there were links between gambling syndicates around Europe and top level players. The evidence that was gathered in a previous investigation was given to the tennis authorities but no players were sanctioned over the evidence that was obtained.

Cox told Newstalk Breakfast that the evidence points to the alleged match-fixing happening primarily in the men's game. "It tends to be very much in male game. That's the main evidence we have seen is of male players."  

Daniel Koellerer was the first player to be banned in tennis for match-fixing. Cox told Newstalk Breakfast that the Austrian player claimed that he was approached three times to fix matches. He was offered over €100,000 to throw first-round matches in tournaments. Koellerer still maintains his innocence despite being given a lifetime ban.

"Players in the top-50 who are going around to lots of tournaments, you can obviously get to them at the hotel. You can maybe socialise with them if they are partying. There are ways of getting to them."

The ATP have rejected any suggestions of a cover-up on their behalf. 

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