Madrid - Roger Federer says that insiders should not be betting on tennis matches as the sport moves to clean up an image problem which re-erupted over the summer. "I don't think that match-fixing is happening in our sport," said the world number one on Thursday after powering into the quarter- finals of the Madrid Masters. "I hope if there is anyone doing it they will be caught."
Federer said that limits should be placed on what those associated with the sport can and cannot do when it comes to wagering.
"Fans can bet but, it should not happen on the inside world of tennis. This is the problem that we have," he said.
Federer said that he had never been approached by anyone attempting to influence an outcome, but he warned that it was not impossible to imagine.
The controversy sprang to life in July when number four Nikolay Davydenko, quit a match in the third set with a foot injury, with up to seven million dollars bet online against him as favourite in Sopot, Poland.
Since then, charges and counter-charges have flowed, with other players chiming in with confessions that they had been asked - and refused - to throw matches over the years.
As a result, the main sanctioning bodies met last week in London in crisis session. "It's good that the ATP, ITF and WTA are getting together to try and stop people from fixing," said Federer."
"We had the issue a couple of years ago with speculation about (retired Russian Yevgeny) Kafelnikov. It was quickly resolved and no one spoke any more about it.
"Now the subject is open again. More players are being asked this time around since this is a case involving a top player. Many players are giving different answers, it's become a story.
"If a player has been approached, he must make it public immediately. He can do it anonymously, of course. I hope that this isn't happening. I think I would have heard something sooner if it had been.
"The people who are in the dressing rooms, the people who are in the tournaments shouldn't be allowed to gamble. It's very disappointing if players would be involved in such a thing."
