Tennis Fixing Scandal: Top Players Involved

[Dom Heffner]

http://www.buzzfeed.com/heidiblake/t...ket#.fnkD6jkmp

Secret files exposing evidence of widespread match-fixing by players at the upper level of world tennis can today be revealed by BuzzFeed News and the BBC.

The sport's governing bodies have been warned repeatedly about a core group of 16 players – all of whom have ranked in the top 50 – but none have faced any sanctions and more than half of them will begin playing at the Australian Open on Monday.

One source says grand slam champion involved.

[Redsfaithful]

I said on Twitter - what is the point of this if they aren't going to name names?

Tennis seems like a fairly corrupt sport, I'm not sure I expect any of this to change.

[Dom Heffner]

I said on Twitter - what is the point of this if they aren't going to name names?

Tennis seems like a fairly corrupt sport, I'm not sure I expect any of this to change.

It does seem odd. Maybe they get leaked.

[WrongVerb]

It does seem odd. Maybe they get leaked.

In something like this, if a player is going to be accused, I hope it isn't a leak. I hope whoever has info comes out and says it.

An aside: my uncle is a long time tennis pro and has some loose connections to that world. I'll be curious to talk to him about this as it unfolds.

[Bob Sheed]

Balls in their court now though, I guess.

[Dom Heffner]

Balls in their court now though, I guess.

I think that's what the people releasing this are doing. Maybe not throw the names out there first unless they don't do anything.

[Dom Heffner]

In something like this, if a player is going to be accused, I hope it isn't a leak. I hope whoever has info comes out and says it.

An aside: my uncle is a long time tennis pro and has some loose connections to that world. I'll be curious to talk to him about this as it unfolds.

I agree. The problem with this is, as the article says, it is easy to catch, impossible to prove.

[RiverRat13]

Balls in their court now though, I guess.

The whole thing's a racket.

[Brutus]

Balls in their court now though, I guess.

The whole thing's a racket.

Must.Resist.Urge.

[gonelong]

Must.Resist.Urge.

I don't fault you for feeling this way.

[Dom Heffner]

I don't fault you for feeling this way.

You are an ace for not doing so....

[Redsfaithful]

It does seem odd. Maybe they get leaked.

It is, and the more I think about it the less impressed I am by this report. It's mostly a rehash of stuff that was already known.

Deadspin is having a field day with Djokovic talking about being offered $200k to throw a match, and that's something he has talked about for years. I'm waiting for something new.

[Chip R]

Is tanking the same as fixing? I don't follow the sport terribly close but you see superstars lose to lower seeded players in the early rounds of a non-major tournament in straight sets. Or they pull out of a tournament early due to illness or injury and you see them out partying that evening. That leads me to believe that they are collecting their appearance fees and either faking an injury or losing intentionally to save themselves for the majors. If they aren't doing it for the money is it such a sin?

[Assembly Hall]

Must.Resist.Urge.

Game. Set. Match.

[Dom Heffner]

It is, and the more I think about it the less impressed I am by this report. It's mostly a rehash of stuff that was already known.

Deadspin is having a field day with Djokovic talking about being offered $200k to throw a match, and that's something he has talked about for years. I'm waiting for something new.

I'm not sure if the report was in or out. It may well be right on the line.

Which is in, I guess.