STARNBERG, September 27, 2021 (Guest Post)

Up until recently, tennis was not among the sports with far-reaching scandals, but over the past few years, match-fixing has gradually turned into a looming problem. Contrary to what some might expect, these illegalities have to do with syndicates, rather than with officials from the governing bodies, which is what usually happens with most other sports.

What fans of the sports often ask themselves these days is whether tennis is corruption-ridden, considering that there is information about such illegal practices now only at lower tennis rungs, but also among top players. So whether match-fixing is rife in tennis or this is simply a storm in a teacup is the question we will answer now.

Why Is Match-Fixing So Widespread in Tennis?

Match-fixing has grown into an issue, which casts its scourge in a number of fan-favorite sports, and all the more so in tennis, and there are several explanations why this is the case. It should be pointed out that fixers tend to turn their eyes mostly to tennis players at lower rungs, and this is so mainly because of the not-so-strict control.

If there are any attempts for players to be drawn into fixing, a refusal or failure to report this is considered an offence, and as a result, what the player is most likely to be up against is a lengthy ban, while the fines might reach $200,000.

Another reason why such players are more likely to be on the radar of fixers is that they are more prone to have financial difficulties. Match-fixing proliferates at the lower levels simply because players get entries in the lower prize money events. In fact, the disparity between the prizes offered for the participation of players in the different competitions is a matter, which has started to attract greater attention recently, especially after the Covid-19 outbreak.

It should be pointed out that there are flagged matches also at the highest levels, and back in 2020, a match-fixing investigation was launched for the French Open.

Many people have concerns that the moves that are made so far are not enough to tackle the problem. In an attempt to stamp out this issue, when the events from the ATP are broadcasted, there is a delay of up to one minute. The behavior of the crowds is also strictly monitored to quell unfair betting.

On superbettingsites.com you can find a guide about betting on tennis including tips and strategies on how to find the best value bets.

Match-Fixing Cases in Tennis

Youssef Hossam is a former professional tennis player, whose career ended because of his participation in match-fixing. His tennis lifetime ban was imposed because of Youssef’s multiple breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Code between 2015 and 2019 when he made it to the eighth position in the ITF Junior Circuit.

Joao Olavo Soares de Souza is one more professional tennis player who got a lifetime ban and a hefty fine. The career of the Brazilian player ended after the Tennis Integrity Unit announced that he was found guilty of fix-matching at the beginning of 2020.

Known mainly for his participation in the ATP Challenger Tour,  Nicolas Kicker is another tennis player who is convicted of match-fixing. Unlike the above-mentioned players, Kicker did not get a lifetime tennis ban, and is only suspended from playing tennis for six years. Besides, because of the illegalities he took part in, Kicker faced a fine of $25,000.

One of the most prominent cases of cooperation between bookmakers and the tennis governing bodies was the match between Nikolay Davydenko and Martin Vassallo Arguello, which was held back in 2007. One of the bookies, which offered lines for the event, noticed suspicious betting activity, as more than ten times more money was put on the second half of the match. Still, the investigation started by the ATP did not find any wrongdoings by the players, and back in 2016, the allegations were cleared.