Tennis stars, past and present, want names of match-fixers

Melbourne Around the world players commentators and fans echoed the call of Roger Federer who wants to know names of those suspected of matchfixing in a growing scandal that one expro described as a major wakeup call for the world of tennisMany called for clarity saying the public and players have a right to know who is suspected of cheatingOthers warned that the matchfixing scandal has the potential to damage the reputation of tennis just like doping or corruption scandals have hurt professional cycling athletics baseball and soccerMartina Navratilova the 18time Grand Slam champion tweeted We need facts not suppositions The scandal broke Monday when the BBC and BuzzFeed News published reports timed for the start of the Australian Open alleging that tennis authorities have ignored widespread evidence of matchfixing involving 16 tennis players who have ranked in the top 50 over the past decadeBuzzFeed titled its story The Tennis Racket and said that half of those 16 including a Grand Slam winner were at this years Australian Open This really casts a very dark shadow on our sport right now Mary Jo Fernandez said on ESPN as part of a paneldiscussion Wednesday on the controversyHopefully because the world is watching something will be done about it We need to flag who these players were said Fernandez a threetime Grand Slam finalist winner of two Grand Slam womens doubles titles and two Olympic gold medalsFederer was among the first to demand more information I would love to hear names the Swiss star said Monday at a postmatch news conference Referring specifically to the claim about a former Grand Slam winner he asked Was it the player Was it the support team Who was it Was it before Was it a doubles player a singles player Which Slam Its so all over the place Its nonsense to answer something that is pure speculationHis comments have resonated with those who say not knowing leads to dangerous speculation This is turning into a witch hunt said Patrick McEnroe a former French Open doubles champion and captain of the US Davis Cup team who was in Melbourne commentatingUntil now the average fan may have had little idea that tennis is one of the most gambled on sports in the world with bookmakers actively taking bets midmatchBetween matches at the Australian Open tennis experts have explained the mechanics of matchfixing spelling out that it doesnt necessarily mean throwing an entire match but could involve taking money just to doublefault or lose a setWe knew in the tennis world this was happening at the lower levels of tennis the equivalent of minor league baseball now were hearing a little bit more McEnroe saidWhere theres smoke theres fire This is a major major wakeup call for the world of tennis The BBC and BuzzFeed report prompted an immediate news conference by tennis governing bodies Monday in Melbourne Park where representatives denied allegations that anyevidence about matchfixing had been suppressedOfficials noted that the sports anticorruption division the Tennis Integrity Unit has pursued 18 disciplinary cases that resulted in life bans from the sport for five players and one official It was set up in 2008 after a surge of suspicious betting activity in tennisThe problem for investigators they said is that matchfixing is very difficult to prove Many fans have also been shocked to learn that some of the sports top players have been approached and offered big money to throw matchesNovak Djokovic confirmed earlier in the week he was offered money to intentionally throw a match Djokovic said that he was not directly approached but members of his support team were offered the money in Russia in 2007 an offer the player said was immediately rejectedDuring a break in commentating for ESPN Chris Evert said the scandal had deeply affected her I have been so sad about this the last few days the 18time Grand Slam winner said We as tennis players have always been so proud about the integrity of our sportHopefully the truth will come out she saidAndy Roddick thinks it will The 2003 US Open winner tweeted that he and another retired pro have been engaged in a guessing game Text I got from another former tour pro we should see how many of the 16 betting guys we can name I think I got at least 89Its bound to come out Roddick said in another tweet In the age of leaks and social media I dont think secrets exist