Czech player says he was asked to lose tennis match
Jan Hernych says this happened last year.
PRAGUE, Czech Republic – Czech tennis player Jan Hernych says he was approached in Russia last year and asked to lose first-round matches at ATP tournaments in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
“Someone called me from the (hotel’s) reception to my room, asking whether I wanted to sell a match, if I wanted to lose,” Hernych was quoted as saying in Friday’s editions of the Czech Republic’s biggest daily, Mlada Fronta Dnes.
“I rejected. I think that anyone who would accept it is absolutely mad,” said Hernych, currently ranked 165th.
The matches allegedly involved were against Italy’s Filippo Volandri at the Kremlin Cup, which Hernych won 6-1, 6-4, and against Russia’s Evgeny Korolev at the St. Petersburg Open, which the Czech player won 6-7 (5), 6-4, 7-6 (7).
Hernych said he was not offered a specific sum of money.
“They wanted to know whether I was willing to negotiate with them,” he said.
In the wake of at least one other questionable match, pro tennis officials need to conduct a serious and very transparent investigation. Right now the integrity of the sport is being called into serious question.
- Russian tennis player Ekaterina Bychkova banned for 30 days
- ATP fines Nikolay Davydenko for lack of effort
- Davis Cup fines Sweden $25,000
- Tennis authorities looking into WTA match
- Officials probe irregular betting in Polish tennis tournament
- U.S. Open Tennis officials issue twitter warning
- Tennis stadium evacuated for bag scare
- USA Plays Italy to a 1-1 Draw
- Hall of Fame Boxing Referee and Judge Lou Filippo dead at 83
- IHWC Quarterfinals Set
- Eight is Enough- Edmonton beats Chicago 8-4
- Lydia Ko wins New South Wales Open
- The Comeback I- Pittsburgh Penguins beat NY Islanders 5-0
- Seattle Mariners Outfielder Greg Halman stabbed to death at age 24
- Hee Young Park wins CME Titleholders Championship
- Oklahoma State Women’s Basketball Coach Kurt Budke dead at 50
- Costly mistake- Blackhawks waive Rostislav Olesz
- Manager Tony La Russa announces retirement
- Puck Drop- Florida Panthers start the 2011-12 NHL season
- 13-time PGA Tour winner Dave Hill dead at 74
- U.S. Open Tennis officials issue twitter warning linked with OTB Sports