It has been reported by all the major publications that the tennis unit-corruption investigation has heated up in yesterday. There are several matches under heavy investigation, such as Dmitry Tursunov vs Boris Pashanski (St Petersburg) as well as matches involving Marcos Daniel, Flavio Saretta, Nikolay Davydenko and more.
Brazilian Flavio Saretta claimed yesterday that he was offered $156,000 to lose his first round match at the French Open last year. Saretta rejected the offer and then beat Italian Potito Starace, which actually earned his a meeting in the second round with the man at the middle of the betting controversy, Nikolay Davydenko.
Another Brazilian who refused a bribe was Marcos Daniel, who was offered $21,000 to lose to Olympic gold medalist Nicolas Massu, which happened in Acapulco (a match which Daniel won).
Finally the ATP are probing into Dmitry Tursunov’s victory over Boris Pashanski in St Petersburg. Some sources say that Tursunov was being backed to win the match at $1.20 despite having lost the first set, trailing 0-2 in the second and while he was getting treatment for his lower back. The internet betting exchange Betfair who was involved with the above betting declined to void the market because it had been influenced by the actions of a single high-rolling punter (who is knows as a significant loser). The punters is said to have placed a large bet discreetly through the organisation’s brokerage team but, frustrated at delays, lumped on his stake “up front”, sending prices tumbling. Tursunov ending up winning the match 4-6 6-3 6-4.
All this information follows closely with claims by other professional players, Novak Djokovic, Gilles Elseneer, Dick Norman and Arvind Parmer.
The second round results from the St Petersburg ATP event have shown a few upsets with the top seed sent packing. 93rd in the world (q) Marin Cilic did stand much of a chance against the number 4 in the world and number 1 seed Nikolay Davydenko. The first set was quickly gone from young Cilic with Davydenko winning 6-1, but the Cilic came storming back with a 1-6 7-5 6-1 victory. Watch out for Cilic to cause a few more upsets in this tournament.
An Aging McEnroe, 48, showed that he still had some fight in the old boy when he took on Mark Philippoussis in the seniors tournament in Dallas, Texas, yesterday. With the 18 year difference between the players McEnroe showed the younger player that he could still bash a ball, winning 6-4 6-4.
Ferreira, 36, won the tournament when he defeated Jim Courier 2-6 6-3 11-9 (champions tiebreaker) in the final.
Roger Federer returned to his home tournament of the season, Basel. 48 hours earlier he missed the opportunity to lift his 7th title of the season when he lost in Madrid to David Nalbandian. In his first round match in Basel he was up against Michael Berrer (GER). After winning the first set easily 6-1 he then was under a bit of pressure from the German who took the second set 6-3, but in the final set Roger showed his classed and finally came out with a victory 6-1 3-6 6-3. after nearly 90 minutes.
It has been reported that Wayne Arthurs, who retired this year, has been mentioned in reports over match fixing in international tennis.
There has been 140 matches in question over the past four years which are currently being reviewed by the ATP. Arthurs was involved in one of those matches, Wimbledon 2005 in which he defeated Filippo Volandri of Italy. Volandri who is a clay court specialist was still expected to lose to Arthurs who has some of his best results on the grass courts of Wimbledon. Arthurs did win the match 6-3 6-4 6-4.
Arthurs since has issued a statement that he had never been involved in match fixing and that the Australian public would know him well enough to believe he was never involved.
After Madrid it seems that the race for Shanghai is starting to heat up. The most recent addition to the year ending event is Andy Roddick in 5th. The 7th and 8th spots are very much going to come down to the last Masters Series event in Paris. Current Standings are as follows:
7th - Fernando Gonzalez - 368
8th - Tommy Haas - 329
9th - Tommy Robredo - 328
10th - James Blake - 327
11th - Richard Gasquet - 321
12th - Tomas Berdych - 318
And with 100 points going to the winner in Paris, it is all to play for. Even the finalist in Paris will receive 70 points. So out of those players who will step up under pressure? Or possibly it could be someone even lower that could steal a place, because it must be understood there is nearly $4.5 million in the prize pool for Shanghai. Big Pay Day for the Pressure Player!
About 8 hours after my last post the final of Madrid has been played. At the end of my last post I mentioned that personally I wouldnt bet against David Nalbandian to win the title and surprise surprise I was right. David Nalbandian has defeated Roger Federer in the final 1-6 6-3 6-3.
This caps of an amazing week for Nalbandian who has now defeated world number 1, 2 and 3 this week in consecutive rounds. Simply amazing. Now I have to say it again for you all, watch Nalbandian to do very very well at the Australian Open at the start of next year, he has to be the player to watch who you know can win the tournament.
David Nalbandian has continued is very good form and beats Djokovic in Madrid. The Argentine won 6-4 7-6. This week in Madrid Nalbandian has already defeated world number 2 Rafael Nadal and now world number 3 Novak Djokovic and the only person left in his way to take the Madrid title is world number 1 Roger Federer. Nalbandian has been a top 10 player for many years now and the 24 year old has had a dreadful year with injury and it is good to see him back at the top of the game and here to take on the best in the world. Come the new year make sure you look out for him to cause some upsets in Australia.
According to BetUS.com Roger is the odds on favourite to take the title in Madrid. Would anyone bet against him? Personally i dont mind the odds that Nalbandian has. Make sure you watch this space tomorrow for me to say how Nalbandian won a close final!
The first 2 players into the Madrid Semi-finals are David Nalbandian and Novak Djokovic.
David Nalbandian def. Rafael Nadal 6-1 6-2
Novak Djokovic def. Mario Ancic 7-6 6-2
As you can tell by the results it was a very clinical display by Nalbandian who only dropped three games on his way to victory in just over an hour. The last time Nadal was held to as few as three games was in the Lyon first round in October 2004 event by Julien Benneteau of France, who scored a 6-3 6-0 win. Nalbandian will now take on number three Djokovic in the first semi-final and on recent form with victories over Berdych and now Nadal, would you bet against him to make the final?
It was reported over on Tennisnews that Lleyton Hewitt is supporting Mark Philippoussis and hopes that Tennis Australia provide the 31 year old an opportunity to head back to his home grand slam.
I probably take a different view on this whole situation because I am Australia and I have long been watch the trials and tribulations of Flip. I still think Philippoussis has something to offer the game of tennis and im sure he will be playing on either the pro circuit or senior circuit for a long time to come, but Tennis Australia have very strict guidelines on providing wildcards (they have to be earned). Since Philippoussis has not played a pro match since January last year he cant be shown to have earn a wildcard, therefore he will have to head to Melbourne in December and play in the wildcard tournament in which is only for a selected few Australian players and they compete with the winner obtaining a wildcard into the Australian Open maindraw and the remainder will have to battle it out through qualies.
Philippoussis has weapons in his game that on any given day can scare any player in the world, so come January make sure you watch out!
Madrid Masters Series started on Monday and on day 2 we have already seen a few upsets. Ivo Karlovic had a very tough first round match against Marat Safin, especially considering Karlovic is in such good form and confident after his tournament win in Stockholm last week. Here in Madrid Karlovic made it through the first round winning 6-4 6-4. In second round matches there has been two key upsets so far, with Andy Murray defeating (15) Juan Ignacio Chela 6-1 6-3 and Juan Monaco knocking out (11) Tommy Haas 6-4 7-5.
On the WTA Tour Serena Williams has booked her place in the year ending event. As you can see she joins Justine Henin, Jelena Jankovic, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Ana Ivanovic.
This year the Sony Ericsson Championships will take place in Madrid from November 6 - 11.
Serena who is currently only 26, but seems to have been on tour forever, is going to make her seventh appearance in the year ending event. Going on recent form, watch out for her to take the title.
After his win last week in front of his home crowd, Nikolay Davydenko has booked his place at the season ending event in Shanghai. Davydenko defeated Paul-Henri Mathieu in a very tight Moscow final, 7-5 7-6. He now joins Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic in Shanghai.
Andy Roddick and David Ferrer are also pretty much assured of their places in Shanghai, as long as the dont have a shock upset in Madrid.
Welcome to Tennis Chatter. Here we will discuss the state of Men's and Women's tennis. We'll chat about the historical ramifications of Roger Federer's career. Rafael Nadal's name might come up from time to time. Sharapova, Henin, The Williams Sisters, and others will also appear in the blog. Not only we will look at the the top players, but also the up and comers. Who will be the next King and Queen of Wimbledon? Who will usurp the top brass? Who will be the next to get a postal stamp in their honor (Federer will not be the only one)? Stay tuned and we will find out together.
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It has been reported that Wayne Arthurs, who retired this year, has been mentioned in reports over match fixing in international tennis.
David Nalbandian has continued is very good form and beats Djokovic in 
It was reported over on 
On the WTA Tour Serena Williams has booked her place in the year ending event. As you can see she joins Justine Henin, Jelena Jankovic, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Ana Ivanovic.
After his win last week in front of his home crowd, Nikolay Davydenko has booked his place at the season ending event in Shanghai. Davydenko defeated Paul-Henri Mathieu in a very tight Moscow final, 7-5 7-6. He now joins Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic in Shanghai.
