Tennis Integrity Unit To Investigate Wozniacki Match

Gambling News - October 26th, 2009 - Written by Glen

Match fixing and sports gambling has always been a problem in the WTA, and the authorities in the association are once again investigating a potentially fixed match to see if a player had thrown in the towel to send the USA Online Sportsbooks up in arms.

Caroline Wazniacki, the sixth ranked in the World, waved the white flag of surrender in the first round of the Luxembourg open. She retired from the match due to a hamstring injury while in the lead above Anne Kremer. Wazniacki, prior to her retirement, was holding strong with a 7-5, 5-0 lead.

Her father was overheard when he suggested she retire before taking the victory, as her injury would cause her more harm than worthwhile in the long run. After his comment, players flocked to the sportsbooks and caused a massive spike in bets on Kremer to take the cake - thus causing many to question whether or not this was intentional or pure coincidence.

With the ease of access of online sportsbooks, illegal bookies, and many land based books scattered around the world, fixing tennis matches has not been entirely unheard of, though speculation is abound over whether or not this is the case in the Woznaicki-Kremer match up.

Woznaicki has denied allegations, and has received medical treatment for the hamstring, thus strengthening the case in her favor. The comment made by her father prompted the investigation, though some reports suggest that the change of the betting trend was hardly significant.

The investigation is more a standard of practice, and it is unlikely that any detriment will fall on the shoulders of Woznaicki, despite the 40-to-1 odds that bookmakers had set on her opponent. The Tennis Integrity Unit has made little comment outside of their looking into the issue, though a judgement is likely to appear in the not too distant future.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.

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