Defiant Novak Djokovic hits out at ‘absurd’ match-fixing ‘speculation’ after comfortable second round win in Melbourne
World number one calls for those making corruption allegations to provide proof after blasting an Italian newspaper which suggested he could have thrown a match
World number one Novak Djokovic has called for those making corruption allegations to provide proof after blasting as “absurd” an Italian newspaper which suggested he could have thrown a match.
There’s always going to be, especially these days when there is a lot of speculations, this is now the main story in tennis, in (the) sports world, there’s going to be a lot of allegations
“It’s not true,” the 28-year-old Serb told a tense press conference at the Australian Open when asked about the suggestion by Tuttosport newspaper about his 2007 defeat by Frenchman Fabrice Santoro at the Paris Masters.
The reigning champion, who eased into the third round with a 6-1, 6-2, 7-6 (7-3) win over French teenager Quentin Halys in Melbourne on Wednesday, described the current speculation about tennis as “absurd”.
He said it would remain speculation until there is “real proof and evidence”.
Tennis authorities have also strongly denied suggestions that evidence of corruption has been deliberately suppressed.
Tuttosport suggested that Djokovic could have deliberately lost to Santoro at the Paris Masters in 2007. Djokovic played then just after having had his wisdom teeth taken out.