SAN FRANCISCO, October 06, (THEWILL) – An investigation into claims of match-fixing at this year’s Roland Garros has been opened by French prosecutors. The allegations concern a women’s doubles match in the ongoing Grand Slam.
THEWILL learnt that the prosecutor’s office is looking into what it calls “fraud in an organised group” and “active and passive corruption” related to the doubles match between the Romanian pair of Andreea Mitu and Patricia Maria Tig and the pair of Russian Yana Sizikova and American Madison Brengle.
The first-round match particularly caught the attention of the National Games Authority (ANJ) which regulates the French online gaming market. In the fifth game of the second set, a bet of €100 on a game won by the Romanians yielded double. The Russian opponent then committed two double faults and ensured that the Romanians won the game easily.
Large sums of money were wagered at the same time with several operators and in several countries. The sums were probably around several hundred thousand euros.
Questioned about further developments on the case, the French Open organisers were reticent, asking all queries to be addressed to the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU). In the same fashion, the TIU reserved comments. THEWILL believes this cannot be unconnected to the fact that since the matter is already under investigation, they do not wish to pre-empt any conclusions by their comments.
The TIU, charged with the responsibility to investigate potential corruption within tennis, usually refrains from commenting on ongoing investigations. This particular investigation has been referred to and is being handled by the Central Service of Races and Games (SSCJ) of the French Police.
About the Author
