Tennis rocked as 135 players linked to betting scandal

Tennis officials around the world are preparing to face a media backlash after German media on Sunday reported a major international investigation into illegal betting on games had implicated more than 135 players, including one ranked in the ATP top 30.

According to a joint report by daily newspaper Die Welt and broadcaster ZDF, the players are subject to a cross-border investigation involving both the FBI and European authorities.

Among the individuals allegedly involved is a male player in the top 30 who has won three ATP tour titles, the report said.

There identity of that player remains a mystery.

“We are talking about an Armenian betting mafia network which is spread across seven countries in Europe and has manipulated on a large scale,” Belgian state prosecutor Eric Bisschop told ZDF.

He said the scandal involved hundreds of small bets on fixed games, wracking up profits of tens of thousands of euros in each case.

“Numerous small amount bets were placed on ‘manipulated games’ and more than thousands of Euros might sum up to each manipulation. This mafia is very structured, it has people who are responsible for the accounts, others who wash the money and those who make contact with the players,” Bisschop said.

ZDF and Die Welt also spoke to Argentinian former player Marco Trungelliti, a whistleblower who claims to have been contacted by match-fixers.

Whistleblower Marco Trungelliti

“There are pros in the world top 50 who have fixed games. It happens at all levels,” Trungelliti said.

Armenian betting gangs have long been involved in underworld betting tings and The BBC and Grandslamtennis.online reported their existence earlier this year.

But this is the first time a top 30 ranked payed is alleged to be involved.

This year the Tennis Integrity Unit has banned more than 20 players, both men and women.

Peter Rowe

Recent Posts

Nadal goes down in final match

Rafael Nadal lined up for what was to be the final match of his career…

2 days ago

Sinner flattens de Minaur in runaway home start

Jannik Sinner took charge in front of his home crowd on Sunday, crushing ATP Finals…

2 weeks ago

Madcap Medvedev suffers temperamental Turin Finals loss

Daniil Medvedev went into meltdown mode on Sunday during a highly charged 6-4, 6-3 loss, with opponent…

2 weeks ago

Team Sinner considering skipping Monte Carlo

Jannik Sinner could well be missing from the opening European clay event of next season…

2 weeks ago

Davis Cup Final to mark Nadal goodbye to tennis

Rafael Nadal will bring down the curtain on his career next month as he plays his…

1 month ago

Wimbledon lowers the boom on human linecalling

Wimbledon on Wednesday brought an end to human linecalling at the most traditional of the…

1 month ago