Roger Federer wants to know names of players suspected of match fixing
Roger Federer is calling for BBC and BuzzFeed to release the names of the players implicated in their report on suspected match fixing throughout men’s tennis.
The report, released on Sunday, states that 16 unnamed top-50 players have been flagged multiple times for match fixing but have continued to play without discipline from the Tennis Integrity Unit. More than half of those players are reportedly participating in the Australian Open.
“I would love to hear names,” Federer said, according to the Associated Press. “Then at least it’s concrete stuff and you can actually debate about it. Was it the player? Was it the support team? Who was it? Was it before? Was it a doubles player, a singles player? Which Slam?
“It’s super serious and it’s super important to maintain the integrity of our sport. So how high up does it go? The higher it goes, the more surprised I would be.”
• Novak Djokovic says he was offered $200,000 to throw match in 2007
Tennis officials have denied deliberately suppressing evidence or failing to investigate allegations of match fixing.
Novak Djokovic has also expressed doubt that match fixing is a widespread problem within the sport, though he did admit to being offered $200,000 to throw a match in 2007.
• LISANTI: Australian Open Day 1: Federer cruises; Wozniacki loses in opener
Federer beat Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia 6–2, 6–1, 6–2 on Monday and will face Alexandr Dolgopolov in the second round of the tournament.
- Erin Flynn
