The issue ofmatch fixing in tennis is an ongoing problem. First reported on by The Sunday Telegraph in 2003,[1] an organisation called theTennis Integrity Unit was set up in 2008 following an investigation into the problem.[2] In 2011,Daniel Köllerer became the first player to receive a lifetime ban from the sport due to match fixing.[3] Later that year, the organisers of the Wimbledon tournament were provided a list of people suspected of involvement in the issue.[4] In 2016 the BBC reported on "evidence of widespread suspected match-fixing at the top level of world tennis, including at Wimbledon",[5] and in February 2019 the BBC said that tennis was a "sport riddled with corruption".[6]
In 2021 the International Governing Bodies of professional tennis established theInternational Tennis Integrity Agency as a further step to combat corruption in the sport.[7]
In 2003, The Sunday Telegraph newspaper in London carried a front-page story entitled, "Tennis players are throwing matches for financial gain". Its investigations included references to numerous matches, including one that involved a top 10-ranked player. As a result of the Telegraph's investigations, "Internet odds exchange Betfair announce[d] that it signed a memorandum of understanding with the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP)"[8]
In 2007, French tennis playerArnaud Clément claimed he was offered a bribe to fix a match, which he turned down, but added, "I won't say where or under what circumstances". Clément feared divulging more details on the bribe would have negative consequences on his career.[9]
In 2008, theAssociation of Tennis Professionals cleared Russian tennis playerNikolay Davydenko from allegations that he fixed a match againstMartín Vassallo Argüello in Poland in 2007.[10] In 2016, an investigation found that several millions of dollars were placed on the match from Russian-based accounts. Leaked files to the jointBuzzFeed andBBC investigators found 82 instances where Davydenko had sent or receivedtext messages from the suspected head of an Italiansports betting syndicate.[11]
In January 2016, a jointBuzzFeed andBBC investigation reported alleged widespread match-fixing, which involve Northern Italian, Sicilian, and Russian betting syndicates, which included suspicious betting at major tournaments such asWimbledon. The reporters examined betting incidents on a total of 26,000 matches.[12]
In June 2018,Argentinian tennis playerNicolás Kicker was banned from the sport for at least three years for match-fixing. According to an investigation by theTennis Integrity Unit, Kicker knowingly participated in at least two fixed matches in 2015. The ruling prohibits Kicker from competing in or attending a sanctioned tennis match.[13]
In July 2018, Egyptian tennis playerKarim Hossam received a lifetime ban for match fixing.[14]
In August 2019, Egyptian tennis playerIssam Haitham Taweel was suspended for five years for match-fixing and other corruption offences.[15]
In September 2019, Brazilian tennis player Diego Matos received a lifetime ban for match fixing.[16]
In May 2020, Egyptian tennis playerYoussef Hossam received a lifetime ban for match fixing, as his brother Karim had two years prior.[17]
In June 2021, Russian tennis playerYana Sizikova was arrested at Roland Garros after herFrench Open doubles first-round loss, amid a match fixing investigation fromprevious year's tournament.[18] The prosecutor's office said her arrest was for "sports bribery and organized fraud for acts likely to have been committed in September 2020."[19] The case was opened by a French police unit specializing in betting fraud and match-fixing, and centered on suspicions about one match at Roland Garros.[20]
In 2023, a large match-fixing ring in the lower levels of professional tennis, centered around gambling, was broken. At least 181 players were involved.[21]
