The Essa (European Sports Security Association) has flagged three Wimbledon matches over game fixing allegations. These include one in the main championship draw and two matches in the qualifying stages. It is also mentioned one at the French Open and four others at ATP and WTA tennis circuits.
Determent Tactics Not Working
Although there has been a 26% reduction in suspicious betting cases, compared to Q2 2017 (from 53% down to 27%), these new match fixing claims have not done any favors for the reputation of professional tennis.
Further investigation is scheduled to take place regarding the betting activity in these matches, and will be sent to ESSA's Tennis Integrity Unit. According to ESSA a match is being characterised as suspicious, if large bet sizes or volumes continue to be placed on it even after significant price corrections have been made to deter such activity in the market.
ESSA secretary general Khalid Ali said: “Betting integrity issues continue to be a key feature of stakeholder discussions at national and international levels. The principal focus of the report will be the information exchange between operators, sports and national platforms and how to identify risk and improve risk management. This important process will also feed into ESSA’s own integrity conference in London on 12 October.”