Tennis authorities have launched an investigation into the first match for men at Wimbledon yesterday, after bookmakers reported suspicious betting patterns and suspended betting on the match.
This is the second time in two weeks that the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU), an organization that investigates allegations of corruption, was informed by bookmakers on the suspicious match. A game at the Ordina Open last week in the Netherlands has also been under investigation by the TIU, this is the 5th match of this year which is being probed for suspicious gambling patters, and a number of 12 tennis players is being officially monitored by the tennis authorities after they were involved in suspicious betting on matches. All of the 5 matches are ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) matches. The match in question which online casinos suspended betting on and reported to the TIU is that of Jürgen Melzer, the number 26 of the world versus Wayne Odesnik the number 109 of the world. Online gambling company Betfair reported that with the exeption £ 1000, all of the £ 225,000 wagered on Betfair was wagered on an outcome of 3-0 for Melzer. Gamblers clearly knew that Meltzer was going to win that match. When asked about the suspicious betting Odesnik said that he knew nothing of it and would never jeopardise his future like that, in order to win some quick bucks with gambling. Odesnik confirmed the rumours circulating on betting forums prior to the match that he had been carrying an injury into the match. Odesnik also insists he has never been approached by anyone seeking to make a corrupt profit from a match.
