Novak Djokovic denies match-fixing claims, says ‘it`s just absurd’

Novak Djokovic denied an Italian media report he deliberately lost a match in 2007 that has been linked to a wider scandal involving alleged corruption in tennis.

Former world number one Lleyton Hewitt slammed match-fixing allegations as an “absolute farce” on Thursday as his emotional retirement at the Australian Open was tainted by the corruption claims which have rocked tennis.

When questioned about the allegations yesterday, having beaten French teenager Quentin Halys 6-1, 6-2, 7-6 here, Djokovic was vehement in his denials that he lost it deliberately.

The Tuttosport article pinpointed a 2007 match in the Paris Masters event at Bercy, where Djokovic suffered a 6-3, 6-2 defeat at the hands of the then 34-year-old Fabrice Santoro.

Tuttosport cited documents that are part of an investigation into tennis match-fixing by prosecutors in Cremona, Italy, though it didn’t present any of the evidence and said Djokovic was not under investigation. “What it is to say?” At Melbourne Park, he has lost only one match in the previous five tournaments. “I don’t know if you’re trying to create a story about that match or for that matter any of the matches of the top players losing in the early rounds”.

“Anybody can create a story about any match”, he added.

Speaking of Federer, he is also safely through, with a commanding straight sets win over the Ukraine’s Alexandr Dolgopolov, who failed to provide the stern test that some expected, with the 17-time Grand Slam champion easing through 6-3, 7-5, 6-1.

Andre Agassi says match-fixing in tennis “never even made my radar” while he was on tour. “I’ve lost that match”, retorted the 28-year-old said.

“Hopefully because the world is watching, something will be done about it. We need to flag who these players were”, said Fernandez, a three-time Grand Slam finalist, victor of two Grand Slam women’s doubles titles and two Olympic gold medals. “You know, until somebody comes out with the real proof and evidence, it’s only speculation for me”. The players said they have known the issue existed but they doubt any top players have been involved. But I’m with Roger Federer who says let’s hear the names, because without them there’s not much to go on here other than the Davydenko incident which we know was mishandled. “I don’t support it. I think there is no room for it in any sport, especially in tennis”. ‘I might be just cheering for that one’.

According to the reports, the ATP investigation widened to uncover a network of other players suspected of match-fixing, but officials didn’t follow up on the cases.

The outspoken Ukrainian chatted while glancing at scores on television screens near the men’s locker room at the Australian Open and revealed how a misleading scoreline could mistakenly be construed as suspicious behavior by a player. “To come back here and play my first match on Rod Laver is always very special as you always get those first little jitters out of the way”.

“I do think it’s important that from a younger age players are better educated and made more aware of what they should do in those situations and how decisions like that can affect your career and affect your whole sport”.