MOSCOW (AP) — Nikolay Davydenko, the player at the centre of tennis’ biggest match-fixing scandal, criticized Andy Murray on Thursday for saying everyone knows that there is corruption in the sport.
"If Murray says that he knows, that means that he gambles himself," Davydenko said after reaching the quarter-finals of the Kremlin Cup. "Because people who start talking out loud have their fears disappear. And they know that if they speak out loud it means that they are free, they have not done it."
Murray, who was upset Thursday in the second round of the tournament in Moscow, said earlier this week that "everyone knows it goes on."
"I’m not going to name names," Murray said Thursday. "I’ve just spoken to quite a lot of the players about that, and there’s obviously something that needs to be addressed."
Because of his earlier comments, Murray was immediately asked to meet with the ATP, which is investigating a Davydenko match and others along with the WTA Tour, the International Tennis Federation and the Grand Slam Committee.
Davydenko seems to believe Murray knows a lot about match-fixing.
"Since Murray was describing in details how it all goes on, it means that he went deep into it," the fourth-ranked Russian said. "As if he was never involved in it, but he knows how it all works in details. It was folly of him to say this."
Davydenko also talked about the investigation surrounding his match.
"I had a meeting (with the ATP) in Frankfurt after the Davis Cup (semifinals), and ATP delays (the decision)," Davydenko said.
Online betting site Betfair, in an unprecedented move, voided bets on a match in Poland involving Davydenko in August because of irregular betting patterns. The Russian withdrew from that match against 87th-ranked Martin Vassallo Arguello in the third set because of a foot injury.
"One day it will be over," Davydenko said. "They keep on investigating."