Aug 07 2007
Talk by Mafia man threw game-fix fear into Montreal victim Berdych
Tenth seed Tomas Berdych took the week’s first upset loss at the Montreal Masters on Monday, and then admitted that the match-fixing drama surrounding Nikolay Davydenko was worse than any doping controversy.
The Czech, on court for the first time in five months, was beaten by Dutch qualifier Robin Haase 6-4, 7-5.
Davydenko, fifth in the world, was cited for a suspicious mid-match injury withdrawal last week in Poland.
The ATP has launched an investigation after online betting on the second-round contest was halted due to a flood of seven million dollars to eventual winner Martin Vassallo-Arguello of Argentine.
Davydenko quit in the third set with a foot injury. Online agency Betfair refused to pay out on the match, citing money flowing at ten times the normal amount.
Berdych was among ATP players who listened at a Miami players meeting last spring as reformed former Mafia boss Michael Franzese explained the diabolical consequences of match-fixing.
“I think this is much worse…than the doping,” said Berdych.
“Imagine if you have a situation that they come to you and they give you the offer with money and tell you: ‘If you lose this match, you gonna get whatever.’
“You say, Okay, right, this is a bad tournament. It happens once, and they’re gonna come again another tournament and you’re going to say, ‘No, I don’t want to do it, I’m going to play.’
“Then the problem starts.”
Berdych had problems of a different kind as he took to the hardcourts for the first time since March.
The inspired Hasse, aged 20 and ranked 103, fired 11 aces and broke twice on the way to the upset in just over 90 minutes.
“I knew what to expect (after losing to Berdych in Davis Cup),” said Haase, who called the victory the best of his career to date.
“I was ready for it, I played a good match. I did the good things.
“To beat a player with the name “Berdych” is unbelievable. I think it’s my best win, for sure.
“I knew last week in Washington I could have won against (Marat) Safin, too. I had chances, I knew I can bring up my level.”
In another early result after play began two hours late due to rain, Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka reached the second round over Lee Hyung-taik of Korea 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.
The event is set to be hit by more rain delays in the coming days.
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, winners of the last three editions of a tournament, which alternates annually between Montreal and Toronto, head the field.
Talk by Mafia man threw game-fix fear into Montreal victim Berdych - AFP News brief - 06/08/07 20h56 GMT+1 - http://www.france24.com/france24Public/en/administration/afp-news.html?id=070806195638.nj04as2w&cat=null&print=true
