Police open investigation into alleged match-fixing during French Open women’s doubles match
Match-fixing probe at French Open after ‘hundreds of thousands of euros were gambled on Russian player’s serve being broken’ before she double faulted
- French Open game is being investigated following suspicions of match-fixing
- Bookmakers raised the alarm after noticing unusual betting patterns in a game
- It is said to have occurred in a women’s doubles game during the first round
- Reports claim bets were placed on Russia’s Yana Sizikova’s serve to be broken
The French Open has become embroiled in a match-fixing scandal after police began investigating a women’s doubles match which was flagged by bookmakers for unusual betting activity.
According to German newspaper WELT, French police are investigating a first-round match on September 30, which saw Romanian duo Andreea Mitu and Patricia Maria Tig go up against the USA’s Madison Brengle and Yana Sizikova of Russia, where it was alleged that the fifth game of the second set was fixed.
The report suggests that hundreds of thousands of euros in bets were placed on Sizikova’s serve to be broken, leading to suspicions of fraud.
A French Open women’s doubles match is being investigated after suspicions of match-fixing
The game in question was a first-round women’s doubles match between Romanian pair Andreea Mitu and Patricia Maria Tig and Madison Brengle (bottom left) and Yana Sizikova (bottom right)
Reports suggests that hundreds of thousands of euros in bets were placed on Sizikova’s (pictured) serve to be broken in the fifth game of the second set on September 30
Footage from the game showed that the 25-year-old Russian was broken in the fifth set, as she served double-faults in the first and final points before stumbling while failing to reach a return at 15-0.
The Romanian duo went on to win the match in straight sets but that specific match is now being called into question.
L’Equipe have also reported that large sums of money were bet on the Romanians winning the game and that the wagers were placed in several countries through Paris-based gambling outlets.
Prosecutors said they were probing alleged ‘fraud in an organised group’ and ‘active and passive corruption in sport’.
Yana Sizikova is currently ranked 652nd in the WTA singles rankings with a career high of 336
Madison Brengle has a current WTA singles ranking of 78, reaching a career high of 35 in 2015
Tig (L) and Mitu (R) eventually crashed out in the third round of the women’s doubles
The Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU), which deals with match-fixing cases, has declined to comment on the matter.
The incident comes months after Brazil’s Joao Souza was handed a lifetime ban after he was found guilty of numerous match-fixing charges.
The ultimate sanction, in conjunction with a $200,000 (£153,000) fine for the 31-year-old, came following an investigation by the TIU.
Souza was found to have committed multiple breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP), including incidents of match-fixing at ATP Challenger and ITF Futures tournaments held in Brazil, Mexico, the United States and Czech Republic.
All four players have been approached for comment by Sportsmail.
