Davydenko Faces Tricky Questions

It's not so easy to fix a broken reputation. That's what Nikolay Davydenko, the world's fifth-ranked tennis player is finding out.
Davydenko is still under investigation by the Association of Tennis Professionals' governing body after a report from UK-based online bookmaker Betfair pointed out irregular betting patterns on a match in 2007. Heavy one-sided betting was a feature of Davydenko's early-round loss to a field player.

Now Davydenko is facing tricky questions from reporters after bowing out in straight sets in the US Open to a low-rank player, Benjamin Becker.

Davydenko finds himself being followed by speculation and rumor wherever he plays. He lost a match against Argentinian Martin Vassallo, Arguello in Sopot, Poland, in August 2007 and the rumors flew.

Davydenko responded to this by saying that he had spoken to his wife in Russian on the center court during the match and thinks he may have said something like, "I don't want to play or I can retire". Davydenko suspects that the large Russian speaking crowd misunderstood his words.

"I am physically and emotionally worn out by all this talk," he commented. No evidence has been collected against the tennis star. But will the problem go away?

One of the measures that has been taken by the All England Club, which has managed Wimbledon since 1877, is the implementation of tough restrictions on access to the locker rooms. Other actions to limit or stop players from placing bets on the games will follow.

Punishments too, will be jacked up to deter players from involvement in match-fixing. There is talk of life-bans and high fines for transgressors. A player who is approached by anyone in relation to match fixing is required to report the incident within 48 hours.