Tennis match-fixing scandal overshadows Australian Open
As the Australian Open began, talk was about a different kind of racket.
Eight unidentified players competing there are on the list of suspects who allegedly threw matches. That list was compiled by an investigative unit within the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and leaked to the BBC and BuzzFeed.
The ATP acknowledges their investigation has discovered rigged matches going back years, but Executive Chairman Chris Kermode insists there has been no cover up.
"Tennis has invested over $14 million to address this issue of corruption and it is constantly being reviewed," Kermode said.
World number one Novak Djokovic says he was offered $200,000 in 2007 to throw a first-round match in Russia.
"I was approached through people that were working with me at the time, that were on my team. Of course, we threw it away right away," said Djokovic.
Djokovic made $21 million last year. Tennis officials say most of the players involved earn far less.
More than 70 are suspected of throwing matches, but the vast majority have not and will not be disciplined because their alleged offenses took place before an anti-corruption rule was established in 2009.
Since 2010 the ATP has disciplined 18 people, including a lifetime ban for 5 players.
None of the names in the report have been made public, which top-ranked players say is a mistake.
"I would love to hear names. Then at least it's concrete stuff and you can actually debate about it," Roger Federer said.
Andy Murray agreed. "As a player you just want to know what is going on. You want to be made aware of the people that are potentially involved in this."
Because the ATP is not a law-enforcement agency, they're limited in their evidence-gathering abilities. Investigators interviewed players and witnesses, and analyzed betting and phone records to uncover the foul play.