Dmitry Tursunov is the latest star to reveal he was offered money to throw tennis matches.
Russian follows Belgian duo in alleging corruption
Dmitry Tursunov is the latest tennis star to reveal that he was offered money to throw matches.
The Belgian duo of Gilles Elseneer and Dick Norman revealed on Thursday that they had been offered bribes to influence the outcome of matches, although the ATP Tour had dismissed suggestions that such activity is rife.
Speculation has intensified since the internet betting exchange Betfair voided bets on a match between Nikolay Davydenko and Martin Vassallo Arguello after observing irregular betting patterns.
Asked by the Russian newspaper Izvestia if he had been offered bribes, Tursunov replied: "Yes, several times. I was approached in Madrid in the middle of the season last year. And at some other tournament."
Tursunov, the world number 29, refused to say how much he was offered or give more details.
Semi-finals
The Russian was speaking after beating wildcard Wang Yeu-tzuoo 4-6 6-2 6-4 to reach the semi-finals of the Thailand Open in Bangkok.
"It was a difficult match. I could have easily lost, the important thing is I'm through," said the sixth seed, who won his second career title in Indianapolis in July.
"Not only were my serves coming back, but coming back as penetrating shots. It was demoralising for me when he returned everything."
Tursunov will meet Fernando Verdasco in the last four after the Spaniard's 4-6 7-6 6-4 victory over unseeded Frenchman Nicolas Mahut.
In a fiercely-contested match, Mahut took the first set and was on the verge of victory in the second when he broke the eighth-seeded Spaniard at 5-4.
But Verdasco battled back, capitalising on some sloppy returns from the 71-ranked Frenchman to force a tie-break, where he overpowered Mahut 7-2.
Verdasco returned for the third set full of confidence, sealing victory with some neat backhands and stinging forehand drives from the backcourt.
"I was so tired all the match, but in the second set he gave me that break and I was thinking 'win it, or I'm out,'" Verdasco told reporters.
"I used all my power to win that game. That gave me confidence to win the tie-break. Now, my focus is winning my semi-final, maybe the tournament too."
