The second quarter of 2018 saw an ‘above average’ number of matches be reported to the relevant authorities over suspicions of potential match-fixing.
The Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) confirmed that they have been notified about 86 matches to investigate. These all took place either between April-June or during the Wimbledon Championships. The figure if well over the average for that time of the year. Between 2015-2017, the TIU had an average of 60 reported matches during the same time of the year.
“The increased figure for 2018 is largely the result of additional monitoring and reporting through a number of new Memorandums of Understanding (MoU).” The TIU said in a statement.
Out of those 86, only one occurred at Wimbledon. Normally the players identities are unknown unless the investigation concludes that they have broken the rules. Although, it has been confirmed that the match in question was a men’s doubles match involving Fernando Verdasco and David Marrero. Their first round encounter was flagged up by bookmaker Pinnacle Sports due to ‘irregular betting patterns.’ Both Verdasco and Marrero have since denied any wrongdoing.
It is in the lower level tournaments on the men’s tour where the most irregularities have been reported. On the Challenger and ITF Tour, a total of 60 matches have been flagged. Equating to almost 70% of all cases. Women’s matches have also been investigated, but on a much smaller scale. Two WTA and eight ITF matches have been identified as irregular.
Matches reported to the TIU during the second quarter of 2018
Period |
Total Match Alerts |
Grand Slam |
ATP Tour |
WTA Tour |
ATP Men’s Challenger |
ITF Men’s Futures |
ITF Women’s |
Hopman, Davis, Fed Cups |
April to June 2018 |
86 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
14 |
56 |
8 |
1 |
It is currently unknown if any of these matches involved have been complicit in match-fixing. There are other factors such as injury, illness and conditions that can also have an impact on the betting odds.
In June two Argentine players was suspended from the tour. Former top 100 player Nicolas Kicker was found guilty of ‘contriving the outcome of a match’ at two Challenger tournaments during 2015. Leading him to be handed a six-year suspension with three of those years being suspended. He is eligible to return to the tour in May 2021. Meanwhile, Federico Coria was handed a eight-month suspension (of which six months were suspended) for failing to report corrupt approaches made towards him.
Earlier this year a 27-month investigation by the Independent Review Panel (IRP) concluded that there was a ‘tsunami’ of corruption occurring in lower level tournaments. Largely linked to low prize money and the costs of being a tennis player. A series of recommendations have been put forward. The TIU confirmed that a ‘consultation process’ is now ongoing and a final report will be published in the autumn.