A WTA Tour match involving US Open finalist Caroline Wozniacki has sparked controversy following an online betting plunge.
Wozniak, ranked 6 in the world and clear favorite to in the first round Luxembourg Open match against unseeded opponent Anne Kremer, lead 7-5, 5-0 before retiring hurt with a hamstring injury.
Shortly before forfeiting the match, punters plunged bets on Kremer to win, even though she was down a set and 0-3. Online sports betting operators reported a betting surge that rang alarm bells and has now lead to the matter being referred to the Tennis Integrity Unit, a special body formed by tennis' various governing bodies to combat match fixing.
Apparently, mid-way through the third set, with Wozniacki leading 3-0 and complaining of hamstring soreness, she was instructed by her father to retire hurt. The instructions were picked up by on-court microphones and broadcast to viewers. It was at this point in time that the betting plunge occurred and punters cleaned up.
Of course Wozniacki has professed complete innocence at her involvement in the affair, defending her actions in a Danish newspaper.
'So, people bet on my matches. Some win, others lose. I just know that I am clean. It is most important to me. And if anyone is in doubt about my injury, I can both produce scan from the hospital and a report from the tournament physiotherapist.'
The scandal comes on the back of a number of suspicious betting patterns on tennis matches, including a number involving Russian Nikolay Davydenko. More recently 'extreme bet activity on a relatively obscure encounter' between Wayne Odesnik and 30th ranked Austrian Jurgen Melzer at Wimbledon this year lead to investigations being carried out on the match outcome.
photo courtesy AP
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