BERLIN (AP) — Tommy Haas said it’s time to name names after an unidentified German player accused another of match-fixing during a television interview.
Talk of match-fixing has swirled around tennis for weeks. The latest accusation came from the unnamed German in a TV interview who said he was approached by someone who wanted to place a five-figure bet for him. The man’s voice was electronically distorted during the interview.
Some German tennis officials and players, including 11-year pro Haas, were skeptical of Sunday’s interview, however.
"It’s time people start naming names," said Haas, Germany’s highest ranked player at No. 13. "Every day someone says something: Andy Murray, Werner Eschauer, Michael Llodra, Arnaud Clement, now someone anonymous.
"I’m telling them, be concrete — then we can undertake something concrete. All this talk isn’t bringing us further."
The unnamed German said there aren’t many players involved in fixing matches and "those that do it are more professional about it than about playing tennis itself."
"You can’t prove that someone lost intentionally. Someone that is involved, or was involved, has to name names," he said. "Threats from the ATP is a blind alley."
The player also claimed to have witnessed betting inside players’ lounges at tournaments.
Two months ago, Belgian player Gilles Elseneer said he was offered — and turned down — more than US$100,000 to lose a first-round match against Potito Starace at Wimbledon in 2005.
Clement said last week he turned down money as well, but didn’t elaborate.
The four major governing bodies of tennis — the International Tennis Federation, ATP, WTA Tour and Grand Slam Committee — have been discussing ways to keep the sport clean since the match-fixing rumours began in earnest in August.
That was when an online betting site, in an unprecedented move, voided bets on a match in Poland because of irregular betting patterns. Fourth-ranked Nikolay Davydenko withdrew from that match against 87th-ranked Martin Vassallo Arguello in the third set because of a foot injury.
The TV interview with the unidentified player, surprised some Germans involved with the sport.
"I was totally surprised," Germany’s Davis Cup captain Patrick Kuhnen said. "I simply can’t believe that German players are involved in illegal betting at tennis tournaments."
Michael Stich, the 1991 Wimbledon champion, said he was never confronted with match-fixing during his career, but didn’t discount the possibility it could happen.
"Certainly there are very few sports where, theoretically, it’s as easy to manipulate bets," Stich said.