TENNIS SERVE
COAST VETERAN’S FIXING CLAIM
TENNIS Gold Coast president Mike Ford says the financial strain of being a lower-level player is a key factor behind the corruption which has crept into the sport.
A two-year independent investigation claimed match-fixing was unlikely to occur at the elite level and that players at the other end of the spectrum were far more susceptible.
While Ford has not person- ally been aware of any player being involved in match-fixing, he said the financial demands involved with trying to burst onto the scene could force some into an ill-judged and desperate move.
“It’s not all that surprising in that obviously the players in the lower-tier events, where they can’t generate enough income to even survive (are more susceptible),” he said.
“The discussion comes up because of simply the vulnerability. We hear of players, they basically can’t continue on the Futures tour because they can’t afford it.
“And they might be significant talents and be basically players that just need a few more years to mature and the discussion then comes up with generating income, how can they get sponsors? Well they are not going to get the coverage on the Futures tour.
“(But) the minute you go down that hole (match-fixing), you’re finished. You get found out, get a lifelong ban and you’re ruined. I think there’s enough deterrent in place that players wouldn’t do it.”
Ford noted the scourge is not tennis-specific.
“Every day goes past where we see people who used to work in the banks caught with their hands in the till … it’s amongst us in society in general.”
He backed tennis bodies’ anti-corruption efforts, with resources even being poured into monitoring lower-tier events.
“I think they are doing their best,” Ford said.
“If they can increase the prize pool for Futures events … that would be helpful but I don’t believe that is possible.”