Anastasia Rodionova subject of huge Australian Open qualifying plunge
VICTORIAN Anastasia Rodionova was the subject of a huge Australian Open qualifying plunge certain to draw the attention of the tennis anti-corruption unit.
A TAB punter unloaded $50,000 on the world No.158 to upset qualifying second seed and world No.111 Coco Vandeweghe at Melbourne Park yesterday.
The punter is understood to have placed bets of $35,000 and $15,000 at $1.80 on Rodionova, for a return of $90,000.
The wager was landed when Rodionova upstaged her American opponent 6-4 6-4.
Russian-born, Melbourne-based Rodionova joked when told of the bet.
“Oh really, nice someone is confident in me. That’s good,” she laughed.
“No, I have no idea. I don’t get involved in that.
“I guess somebody was watching the way I was playing in doubles in Brisbane last week.
“Winning that tournament in doubles gave me a lot of confidence and I managed to transfer it in singles and had a good result.”
Australian Open officials refused to comment on the unusually large bet, directing the Herald Sun to the Tennis Integrity Unit’s website.
“The TIU has a global brief to protect the sport from all forms of betting-related corrupt practices and makes no public comment on its work other than to confirm the outcome of an investigation that results in disciplinary action being taken,” the website says.
The Herald Sun is not suggesting illegal activity on anyone’s behalf.
Players, coaches and all accredited personnel, including umpires and media, are barred from betting at the Australian Open.
Wagering companies are barred from setting up booths at Melbourne Park, and their websites are blocked on the Australian Open wireless network, as a safeguard against match fixing.
Formerly ranked No 62 in the world, Rodionova revealed she had suffered mononucleosis and her form had suffered accordingly last season.
Vandeweghe boasts a career-high ranking of 69 but was beaten in first-round qualifying in Auckland last week.
The TIU has prosecuted several players since its creation in 2008 to combat match fixing.
Spain’s Guillermo Olaso was last month banned for five years and fined $US25,000 after being found guilty of match-fixing.
All seven major tennis bodies – the four grand slam tournaments, International Tennis Federation and the men’s and women’s tours – are signatories to the TIU code.
Rodionova was the sole Australian to survive in qualifying yesterday as Sara Tomic bowed out – but not before a spirited fight against experienced Austrian Tamira Paszek.
Tomic, 15, pushed the dual Wimbledon quarter-finalist to a 6-2 7-5 result and deserved to win the second set.
The Queensland wildcard recovered spectacularly from 0-2, winning four games in succession, and served for the set at 5-3.,
But the youngster lacked composure, blundering when in command.
Tomic will now contest the junior tournament.
Arina Rodionova, sister of Anastasia, was beaten 6-4 6-3 by Great Britain’s Heather Watson as Priscilla Hon lost 6-0 6-1 to American Nicole Gibbs.
Madison Inglis was ousted 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 in a tight contest by Russian 19th seed Marta Sirotkina as Tammi Patterson fell 6-2 6-3 to France’s Stephanie Foretz Gacon.
And impressive Queenslander Naiktha Bains pushed Czech Andrea Hlavackova to a 6-2 7-6 (7-3) margin.
Andrew Harris and John-Patrick Smith will play second-round men’s qualifying matches today.
