This article, from January 18th of this year,
details how Novak Djokovic was apparently approached and offered $200,000 USD
to lose a match in St. Petersburg, Russia in 2006. While apparently the man
with the offer never got all the way to speak with Novak himself, he was able
to get the offer through to someone on Novak’s “team.” I have watched Djokovic
play for years now and through all of the interviews and miscellaneous face
time I have been able to watch of him, he seems like a genuine person with high
regard for the integrity of the game. His comments in the interview attached to
this article fit right along with how I have seen him carry himself on and off
the court. Now that Novak is the world’s number one player, it seems as though
it would be a bad idea for match fixers to try and get someone of Djokovic’s
status to throw a match. Too much of his matches are critically analyzed and
watched by millions, which might make fixing actions too obvious.
Novak Djokovic being approached in 2006 to lose a match
makes much more sense then it would today as he was not yet the star that he is
now. How prevalent could match fixing possibly be for those that are not the
biggest names in the sport. At the non-grand slam events in matches where two
non-ranked opponents square off, could match fixing be this critical of a
problem that has thus far gone under the radar?
-Cobey Koretz
Depends how high it can go. If it becomes acceptable at the lower level, it will work its way up to the top. Look at Juventus in the early 2000's. Perfect example of the effects of not playing attention to match fixing through the lower players/teams
ReplyDeleteI'm certainly not agreeing that it would be acceptable for lesser ranked players. More curious as to how prominent it could possibly be for the murkier side of professional tennis where matches aren't necessarily aired on TV and therefore viewed and analyzed by a select few.
DeleteI suppose that if two-non ranked players square off, there would be no real need for match-fixing. It is (mostly) an individual sport and therefore one's reputation is extremely important. I also doubt many players would be willing to throw a match simply for money as it is incredibly difficult (and expensive) to even receive a place to play in a grand-slam. Also, due to the high amount of individual tennis players around the world, a fan-base is pretty much developed from winning matches and placing amongst the top players.
ReplyDelete-Darcy Horn
When it comes to match fixing, tennis is definitely the most intriguing sport to pay close attention to. Because it is an individual sport, it is very easy to lose on purpose while appearing as if you are doing nothing wrong. In other team sports, one player can be in on a fix but cannot successfully execute it because he/she cannot control all of the elements. I believe that low level tennis matches are very vulnerable to match fixing for two reasons: 1) there is very little media coverage and spectators and 2) low level tennis does not make a lot of money, so there is an incentive for individuals to cash in on a large amount of money.
ReplyDeleteMatch fixing is certainly a problem that goes under the radar in a variety of sports. I don't think that the less important, second-tier matches are fixed frequently, because it seems like there is less of an opportunity for a match fixer to benefit from such games. Conversely, the more important matches like the Grand Slam finals offer a lot of potential for match fixers. Nonetheless, I would like to believe that such athletes always play to win and will not falter in the face of bribery.
ReplyDelete-Ryan Ladell
In agreement with Scott above, match fixing at the lower level could be an major issue. The players are unranked and therefore have a very small chance of making it far in the tournament. The easiest way for them to make good money would be to throw matches. These athletes work all their lives in order to be the best tennis players they can be, but its possible that easy money could entice some players. The integrity of the players overall is very high but lower level players are vulnerable.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to see the difference between the higher level and the lower level players. It's sad to see people have to stoop to levels in which they would offer an obscene amount of money, but what's considered even more sad in my opinion if if these athletes accept it, because it essentially would discredit all the hard work they have put into the sport. - Daniel Dzhurayev
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with Scott Leopolds comment above about match fixing in tennis. Since it is individual, it really is not noticeable if one was to throw a match. It could be simply just that player having a bad day. However, Scott brings up a good point that in low-level tennis, it is almost easier to match fix because it receives much less attention. I find this interesting however because if these players want to increase their game and get more noticed, why would they want to possibly throw the game and ruin their chances of getting better by getting caught almost cheating?
ReplyDeleteMatch fixing is definitely an issue in international sporting competitions. Novak is probably one of many professional athletes who have had to turn down losing a game on purpose for a quick buck. However, with Novak having made over $94 million in his career to date, it would be hard to see why he would risk glory for gold. Other professionals, those who are in the declining years of their careers, are more susceptible to match fixing as a desire for quick cash is more appealing that winning another match. This is a huge issue and I am looking for more information regarding this subject to be released.
ReplyDelete-Colin Zaccagnio
Match fixing is now more prominent then ever with how popular gambling has become. It absolutely needs to be investigated better and kept under better control, or it is going to keep continuing to happen. It makes sense that these match fixers approach players on the lower end of the totum pole because they are looking to make more money. It should not be tolerated, though, and actions should be taken more seriously than ever in our new state of gambling around the world.
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ReplyDeleteMatch fixing is a scary thought and is definitely a problem that slips through the cracks more than it should. The reason why it is not talked about much is because it is very rare to catch and convict someone of match fixing. When news like this does come out, it makes huge headlines within the sports community and the association with match fixing can tarnish a person’s legacy forever. I believe that it is more prominent in individual sports, such as tennis, based solely on fact that one person can lose a game/match on their terms easier than making a team lose. Match fixing is a very serious offense that can affect the well-being of people – ranging from financially, mentally, and even the safety of oneself.
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