Murray urges no mercy in fixing furore
World No 1 Andy Murray on Thursday called for the “most severe punishments” against match-fixers in the wake of an Australian corruption scandal involving one of tennis’ emerging stars.
Police in Australia said an 18-year-old had been charged with match-fixing at a tournament in Victoria last October and would appear in court in March.
Australian media named him as 18-year-old sensation Oliver Anderson, the reigning Australian Open boys champion.
The claim, just days before the world’s leading players assemble in Melbourne for the first Grand Slam of the season, related to a first-round match at the second-tier Traralgon Challenger event.
Murray, playing in the Qatar Open in Doha, said he had read about the case and, although he did not want to comment on the specifics, said the issue of match-fixing in tennis had to be tackled.
“It’s disappointing for the game any time something like that comes out,” said the Scot.
“However, if people are caught and charged, I see that as being a positive thing. “If it’s going on and nothing is happening about it that’s much worse for the future of the sport.
“So, if it’s happening, there should be the most severe punishments for whoever is involved in it.”
Three-time Grand Slam champion Murray was backed by rival Novak Djokovic, who is also in Doha and said he was saddened by the news.
“Very disappointing to hear, especially considering the fact that he’s young and won the junior Grand Slam,” said world No 2 Djokovic.
“You know, obviously the quality is there and the potential is there.
“I don’t understand why he has done it,” before adding: “Everyone makes mistakes.”
Fourteen-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal said the latest police case showed the fight against the scourge was working.
“You get tired about this kind of stuff, but the most important thing is (to) fight against these kind of things,” said the Spaniard at the Brisbane International tournament.
“And he is young. That’s even the worst part.”
On the eve of the Australian Open last year, there were bombshell media allegations that match-fixing was rife in the sport and the authorities had done little to counter corruption.
It was alleged that players who had reached the top 50 had been repeatedly suspected of fixing matches but had never faced action.
It sparked an independent review headed by Adam Lewis QC, a London-based expert on sports law, aimed at shaking up the sport’s underfire anti-corruption body — the Tennis Integrity Unit.
In the wake of the revelations, Australian tennis authorities boosted measures to fight corruption.
They included having anticorruption officers at all sanctioned events, a block on access to gambling websites via its public wi-fi at tournaments, and bolstering its national integrity unit.