Czech player Jan Hernych says he was approached to lose matches in Russia
Czech tennis player Jan Hernych says he was approached in Russia last year and asked to lose first-round matches at ATP tournaments in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
"Someone called me from the (hotel`s) reception to my room, asking whether I wanted to sell a match, if I wanted to lose," Hernych was quoted in Friday`s editions of the Czech Republic`s biggest daily, Mlada Fronta Dnes.
"I rejected. I think that anyone who would accept it is absolutely mad."
Hernych is currently ranked 165th in the world.
The matches allegedly involved were against Italy`s Filippo Volandri at the Kremlin Cup, which Hernych won 6-1, 6-4, and against Russia`s Evgeny Korolev at the St. Petersburg Open, which the Czech player won 6-7 (5), 6-4, 7-6 (7).
Hernych said he was not offered a specific sum of money.
"They wanted to know whether I was willing to negotiate with them," he said.
Talk of match-fixing has swirled around tennis for months.
Online gambling company Betfair voided all bets when fourth-ranked Nikolay Davydenko withdrew against 87th-ranked Martin Vassallo Arguello in the third set of a match in Poland in August, citing a foot injury. Unusually large amounts were wagered on the lowly ranked Argentine throughout the match, even after he lost the first set 6-1. The ATP is investigating.
Since then, several players have said they have been approached about influencing a match. Belgian player Gilles Elseneer said he was offered - and turned down - more than US$100,000 to lose a first-round match against Potito Starace of Italy at Wimbledon in 2005. Arnaud Clement of France said he turned down money, although didn`t elaborate.
On Thursday, the Italian tennis federation said it was looking into a report that 124th-ranked Alessio Di Mauro bet on other players` matches.
|
