Tennis: Spaniard Feliciano Lopez denies match-fixing allegations

LONDON (Reuters) - Spanish tennis player Feliciano Lopez has denied any involvement in match-fixing after his name was mentioned in a media report concerning a doubles match with fellow Spaniard Marc Lopez which took place at Wimbledon in 2017.

Tennis: Spaniard Feliciano Lopez denies match-fixing allegations

(Reuters)





Lopez, 37, beat Hungarian Marton Fucsovics on Wednesday to progress to the second round at Queen's, where on Thursday he is due to partner Andy Murray as the twice Wimbledon champion makes his return after a long injury lay-off.

"After stories mentioning my name and my partner Marc Lopez, I feel it is very important to deny any link with events related to the fixing of matches," Lopez told a news conference at the Queen’s Club Championships on Wednesday.

"Unfortunately, tennis players, as they are public figures, are used to having their names being used without their control. Therefore, I will do everything in my power to defend myself against any accusation of this type."

The report Lopez referred to appeared in Spanish digital newspaper El Confidencial on the ongoing 'Operation Oikos' investigation into match-fixing in Spanish football which led to 11 players and officials being arrested last month.

He said he and Marc Lopez had made contact with the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) about the match cited in media reports, a second round defeat by Matt Reid and John Patrick Smith, and was told the match was not under investigation.

Lopez added that he went into that game in question struggling with a foot injury which had forced him to retire during his first round match against Adrian Mannarino.

"I played against Mannarino and I withdrew. We tried to play doubles and give the best of ourselves but we lost. That's all," he said.

"We have faith in the TIU and the role they play to protect our sport. I have always believed in the values of fair play."





(Reporting by Richard Martin; Editing by Ken Ferris)


Share
2 min read

Published

Source: Reuters


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world
Tennis: Spaniard Feliciano Lopez denies match-fixing allegations | SBS News