Gambling watchdog for Open
Gambling watchdog for Open 
By Margie McDonald
Former Australian Captain November 01, 2007
TENNIS’s governing body in Australia has hired a corporate security company headed by a former Victoria policeman in the fight to ensure January’s Australian Open is free of any illegal betting or match fixing.
The furore about players being approached to throw matches has prompted Tennis Australia chairman Steve Wood to act. Last week, TA announced any players, coaches or
officials found breaching its anti-gambling code at next year’s Australian Open (January 14 to 27) would face a life ban from the tournament.
On Wednesday, Wood announced a working party had been established to address the illegal betting issues.
Integral to this is hiring Calibre International, headed by managing director Sal Perna, a former homicide squad detective before moving into the corporate sector, working on security programs at companies such as Australia Post and Telstra.
“These measures are designed to ensure we address the issue of player-tennis integrity and illegal gambling specifically,” Wood said.
The news came as Wimbledon doubles champion Michael Llodra revealed he had been asked to throw a match four years ago.
“I was in my hotel room and somebody called to ask me not to try too hard the next day,” Llodra told French radio. “That was four years ago. I said ‘No’ and hung up.
“Now, with what has happened since, maybe I was one of the first players to have been approached.”
Additional reporting: Agencies
