French Star Makes ATP Match-fixing Claims

The match-fixing rumours surrounding the ATP Tour refuse to go away after French
tennis player Arnaud Clement claimed that he was offered money to throw a game.

The former top 10 player’s comments following similar ones made by British
number one Andy Murray who reportedly claimed that everyone knows match-fixing
occurs on the ATP Tour.

The 53rd ranked Clement stated: ‘It happened to me but I will not tell you
where or how. I didn’t hesitate for a second, I said no. It may be different for
a guy who’s not that high up in the rankings and who has financial problems.

‘It’s very serious. I can’t imagine that a top 10 player could accept that
but it’s hard to imagine as well that guys go to tournaments to make such
offers. I haven’t heard many players say it happened to them.’

Betting on matches at this week’s Paris Masters event is being watched for
anything suspicious, while matches are also being recorded and analysed by
former players and ATP supervisors. Players are also banned from betting at the
venue.

The scandal initially arose after bets on a match in August between Russia’s
Nikolay Davydenko and lowly-ranked Argentine Martin Vassallo Arguello were
voided by British online exchange Betfair because of unusual betting patterns.

Davydenko, who has strenuously denied any wrongdoing, was recently fined
$2,000 (£976) for not trying hard enough during his defeat by Marin Cilic at the
St Petersburg Open last week.

ATP president Etienne de Villiers is one of the speakers at this
week’s FT Sport Industry Summit on 1st November where he will address the issue
of match-fixing.