Bets on Davydenko Tennis Match Voided After `Irregular' Pattern

By Sam Sheringham
Aug. 3 (Bloomberg) -- The U.K.'s biggest online betting house voided all wagers for the first time on a tennis match involving fourth-ranked Nikolay Davydenko because of what it said were irregular gambling patterns.
Betfair said it took more than $7 million in wagers on yesterday's second-round match between Davydenko and 87th-ranked Martin Vassallo Arguello at the Poland Open. Davydenko, a Russian, won the first set 6-2 and lost the second 6-3 before quitting the match with an injury trailing 2-1 in the third set.
``It's a lot more than what is normally bet on these matches and the way the markets responded before and during the game, clearly there was something awry,'' Betfair spokesman Robin Marks said in a telephone interview.
In a statement, the company said it was acting in the ``interests of maintaining integrity and fairness.''
The ATP Tour, which runs the men's tennis circuit, said it was investigating.
It's the first time in Betfair's seven-year history that the company has declared a market void, meaning all money will be refunded to customers.
The Florida-based ATP, formerly known as the Association of Tennis Professionals, said in a statement that it ``takes issues surrounding gambling extremely seriously.''
``We are committed to ensuring our sport remains corruption free and have strict rules in place governing this area,'' it said. ``In addition, we have memorandums of understanding with U.K. and European betting companies that ensures information pertaining to any ATP Tour match that may look suspicious, based upon gambling patterns, is shared with us immediately.''
ATP Statement
The tennis organization, in its statement, declined to specifically discuss the Davydenko match ``until such time as the process has been completed.''
Unlike traditional bookmakers, London-based Betfair matches bettors who take opposing views on the outcome of an event, with supply and demand determining the odds on an Internet-based platform.
During yesterday's match, the odds on a Davydenko victory began to lengthen even after he won the first set, prompting Betfair to realize something was ``not right,'' Marks said.
Davydenko reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, the semifinals of the French Open and the fourth round at Wimbledon, the season's first three Grand Slam tournaments. Since being eliminated by Marcos Baghdatis at Wimbledon last month, his only win in four tournaments has been a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Andrei Pavel in the first round of the Poland Open.
Arguello Loses
Arguello, an Argentine who never has won a tournament on the ATP Tour, lost today in the quarterfinals to Albert Montanes of Spain, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.
The Associated Press quoted Davydenko as saying after his match with Arquello that he had a problem with the toes on his left foot.
``Normally I try to fight to the end but it was very painful and I may have done even more damage by trying to finish the match,'' AP quoted the player as saying.
Davydenko was traveling and on his way to see a medical professional, the ATP said. He is scheduled to play in Montreal next week.
To contact the reporter on this story: Sam Sheringham in London on at ssheringham@bloomberg.net Last Updated: August 3, 2007 13:49 EDT