Djokovic dismisses '˜absurd' Paris match-fixing claims

Italian newspaper Tuttosport featured allegations osurrounding Djokovic’s match against France’s Fabrice Santoro at the Paris Masters in 2007, that the Serbian described as “absurd” and “not true”.

Djokovic was beaten by Santoro in the second round of the Paris tournament, losing 6-3 6-2.

The claims were put to Djokovic following his 6-1 6-2 7-6 (7/3) win against Frenchman Quentin Halys in the Australian Open second round, and the 10-time grand slam champion denied committing any offence.

“It’s not true,” said Djokovic. “I’ve lost that match. I don’t know if you’re trying to create a story about that match or for that matter any of the matches of the top players losing in the early rounds, I think it’s just absurd.”

Djokovic added: “Anybody can create a story about any match. That’s my point.”

At the time of his loss to Santoro, Djokovic said he had not been at peak physical fitness having undergone surgery to remove two wisdom teeth.

French Open champion Stan Wawrinka, meanwhile, has countered Andy Murray’s criticism of betting companies sponsoring grand slams.

Wawrinka believes their involvement and co-operation should be a useful tool in preventing corruption.

A number of events have been partnered by gambling companies, with William Hill a major sponsor of the Australian Open while the most high-profile tournament in Germany is known as the Bet-At-Home Open.

Roger Federer hopes his children choose not to follow in their father’s footsteps as the Swiss says he would grow bored with 40 years of tennis.

Federer’s twin six-year-old daughters, Myla and Charlene, were in attendance as the 34-year-old cruised into the third round with a 6-3 7-5 6-1 victory over Alexandr Dolgopolov.

The girls were more interested in their books than their father’s victory in Rod Laver Arena and Federer said he would be relieved if they avoided a tennis career.

British doubles pair Johanna Konta and Heather Watson set up a Fed Cup selection showdown as they eased into the second round.

They beat 16th seeds Gabriela Dabrowski and Alicja Rosolska in 6-1 7-6 (9/7) and will face fellow Brits Jocelyn Rae and Anna Smith, who beat Chen Liang and Shuai Peng 3-6 6-2 7-6 (7/2).

Konta and Watson are likely to be handed the two singles spots next month for Britain’s Europe/Africa Zone Group I matches against Georgia and South Africa but the doubles team is less clear-cut.