Mixed doubles pair Kubot and Hlavackova reject match-fixing claims

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  • The Pole has denied claims his first-round mixed doubles opponents fixed a match.

    Lukasz Kubot and Andrea Hlavackova believe their first round mixed doubles opponents David Marrero and Lara Arruabarrena were “trying 100 per cent” in their match at the Australian Open on Sunday, rejecting the match-fixing suspicions that have prompted a police investigation.

    A report in the New York Times said that a sports gambling website, Pinnacle Sports, suspended betting for the match on Sunday after large amounts of money, for what is typically an obscure match, was placed on Kubot and Hlavackova to win. The company notified Victoria police of possible irregularities.

    Spanish duo Marrero and Arrubarrena lost the match 6-0, 6-3. The one-sidedness of the betting raised red flags at Pinnacle Sports over possible match-fixing, which prompted the company to suspend betting for the encounter around 13 hours before it started.

    Both Spaniards denied any match-fixing and Marrero blamed his poor performance on a knee injury.

    Suspicious betting information is not considered evidence for match-fixing but the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) – tennis’ internal watchdog – has started an investigation, with both Kubot and Hlavackova confirming they were questioned about the matter.

    They would not reveal any details of their conversations with the TIU, which were strictly confidential but they insist they believe their opponents were trying their best.

    “Yes, they were trying 100 per cent. We were trying our best, we won the match, I don’t know why many people are here,” Kubot told a packed small interview room at Melbourne Park on Monday.

    Asked whether he sensed if Marrero was injured, Kubot added: “To be honest we were so focused on our game that I didn’t even notice if he was injured, or that she was injured. We were just focused on ourselves and we were trying to get our momentum. As you could see there were many no-ad points, which we won in the end. Let’s say in the first set we were very lucky, but that’s how it happened.”

    The match-fixing suspicions have come hot on the heels of allegations raised in a report published last week by BuzzFeed and BBC that claimed gambling corruption was widespread in tennis and that several top-50 players were flagged to the tennis authorities and that they took no action.

    Hlavackova, owner of three grand slam doubles and mixed doubles titles, admitted it was uncomfortable having to answer questions regarding the match with the Spaniards.

    “It’s nothing very comfortable to think that we didn’t win the match on our terms. We played our best yesterday, we did very well and we won. So it’s a bit uncomfortable to be questioned if someone else wasn’t playing 100 per cent or something,” said the Czech Olympic silver medallist.

    A list of players was published following the BuzzFeed/BBC report by an unknown website that claimed they used a mathematical algorithm to figure out the suspected players.

    “I think the name should not be put on a list in a newspaper without any proof because I think you work hard every day, as everyone of us, and this is just putting us, let’s say, on a blacklist but without any proof. I think that should not be written in the paper,” said Kubot.

    “To be honest, as someone who idolises Lleyton Hewitt, I’m really sad that it happened, his name, right here in his favourite grand slam but maybe it should be like this, I don’t know, it’s not my business.”

    Spanish No.1 David Ferrer finds it “impossible” that either Marrero or Arruabarrena could be involved with gambling corruption.

    “They were just trying to win a match. It is impossible that David or Lara have bet (fixed) a match. In this particular moment this is a touchy subject. The media is being sensationalist,” Ferrer said on Monday after reaching the quarter-finals in Melbourne.

    Referring to the New York Times article, Ferrer added: “It sells. It’s looking for more than there really is. If you find someone who is betting (fixing matches) then sanction them. The truth is I feel no pity for those tennis players.

    “But if you don’t know (and have no proof), then don’t call them dirty and don’t taint tennis.”

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