TENNIS BITS & PIECES – Almagro to skip US Open. 17 year old Zverev is on fire in his home tournament of Hamburg and 6 men have been arrested in Australia in connection with a match fixing syndicate. Angelo Lo Conte
Almagro withdraws from U.S. Open
The number 27 of the ATP World Ranking Nico Almagro has withdrawn from the U.S. Open.
The Spaniard hasn’t played since retiring from his first-round match at the French Open in May because of a left foot injury. Friday’s announcement means he’ll miss two straight major tournaments after pulling out of Wimbledon. The 28-year-old Almagro’s best finish at Flushing Meadows was reaching the round of 16 in 2012. He has made four Grand Slam quarterfinals in his career, including an amazing fifth set game in Australia against David Ferrer.
17 years old Zverev reaches Hamburg semifinals
The 17-year-old Alexander Zverev reached the semifinals of his hometown tournament by defeating Tobias Kamke 0-6, 7-5, 6-3 in the Hamburg Open on Friday.
Zverev earned just six points in the opening set, but later on he saved seven of 11 break points and converted four chances to beat his fellow Hamburg resident in two hours.
The 285th-ranked Zverev is the first 17-year-old to reach an ATP semifinals since 2006, when Marin Cilic lost to Feliciano Lopez at Gstaad.
Zverev has also beaten Robin Haase, fifth-seeded Mikhail Youzhny and 11th-seeded Santiago Giraldo. He next faces top-seeded David Ferrer, who eased past Spanish compatriot Pablo Andujar 6-0, 6-2.
Six men arrested due to international match fixing in Australia
One man has been charged and five others arrested in an Australian police operation against an international tennis match-fixing syndicate. Victoria State Police said that detectives from the Purana organized crime task force arrested the men following an investigation into allegations that bets were placed on tennis matches played in both Australia and overseas in which ‘the outcome was predetermined by at least one of the players involved.A police spokesman said the allegations do not relate to matches on the ATP World Tour or at the Australian Open.Australia’s Fairfax Media reported later Friday that tennis players were understood to be among those taken into custody. The arrested men are all aged in their 20s, except for one aged 40.
A 27-year-old Melbourne man was charged with using corrupt-conduct information for betting purposes and drug offences. He was bailed to appear in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Sept. 25.
Police said the arrested men will be questioned about possible offences under Australia’s Crimes Amendment (Integrity In Sports) ACT. Under those laws, passed last year, courts can impose a sentence of up to 10-years jail for match-fixing.
Tennis Australia said it took the allegations seriously and was ”committed to upholding the integrity of the sport.” Spokeswoman Ann West said the organization was co-operating fully with authorities.
