Page 21 - Aruba Today
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SPORTS A21
Thursday 28 January 2016
Roger Federer has Murray, Konta win on distracting day in Melbourne
wisdom on tennis
and life for his kids Andy Murray of Britain makes a forehand return to David Ferrer of Spain during their quarterfinal Murray said of the inde-
match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 27, pendent review.
JOCELYN GECKER 2016. “Surely. I think in these situ-
Associated Press ations I think people be-
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) (AP Photo/Vincent Thian) come skeptical when it’s
— Over the course of his sort of kept in-house. So
celebrated career, Roger Continued from page 17 pendent review of their A BBC and Buzzfeed News getting someone indepen-
Federer has acquired wis- anti-corruption unit to re- report which coincided dent to look into it is posi-
dom on the tennis courts Defending champion No- store “public confidence in with the start of the Austra- tive for sure.”
that translates to life les- vak Djokovic and Federer our sport.” lian Open alleged 16 play- The review will be fund-
sons which he hopes his will contest the other semi- In announcing the re- ers — all ranked at some ed by the Tennis Integrity
children can learn from. final on Friday. view, ATP chairman Chris stage in the top 50 — had Board, which oversees the
A father of four, Federer Since Day 1, the Australian Kermode said the reports been flagged for being in- anti-corruption unit set up
has two sets of twins. The Open has been overshad- had “caused damage to volved in matches where by thesport in 2008 to com-
girls are 6 and the boys owed by media reports the sport,” which com- suspicious betting activity bat match-fixing.
are just 18 months and ev- alleging tennis authorities pelled the major stakehold- was detected. It will be led by Adam Smith,
eryone travels together for had failed to thoroughly in- ers in tennis — the Interna- Murray was asked about a London-based lawyer.
his job. Young Myla and vestigate match-fixing. tional Tennis Federation, developments to the Murray and Raonic, who
Charlene have joined their On Wednesday, Day 10, ATP and WTA tours, and the match-fixing claims, as advanced to his second
mother, Mirka, in Feder- the governing bodies of four Grand Slams — to take have many players in the Grand Slam semifinal after
er’s box at matches, their tennis announced they quick action to address the last 10 days. losing to Federer in the final
heads buried in books, as will commission an inde- issue. “Yeah, that’s positive,” four at Wimbledon in 2014,
their famous dad has ex- are 3-3 in career meetings.
pertly navigated his way “I think just the persever-
into the second week of his ance throughout it, I had a
36th consecutive Grand lot of opportunities even in
Slam — one of his many re- that set I lost,” Raonic said
cords. of his win over Monfils. “I just
The No. 3-ranked Federer said to myself keep making
says it might be an untra- opportunities and hopeful-
ditional family life with a ly they’ll go my way.”
lot of time on the road, but Kerber went down a break
he wants to keep his loved in the second set before
ones close. winning five consecutive
“We’re used to this life. It’s games and saving five set
the only thing they know points before beating Aza-
and I know really for the renka, her first win in seven
last 20 years,” said Federer. matches against the Belar-
He faces No. 1 Novak ussian. Six-time champion
Djokovic in a semifinal Serena Williams and No.
Thursday that is the latest 4-ranked Agnieszka Rad-
installment in their long ri- wanska will meet in the
valry. During on-court in- other women’s semifinal,
terviews, the 34-year-old also on Thursday.q
Federer has spoken of the
pride he feels knowing that Tennis to review integrity unit to restore confidence
his girls are old enough now
to have life-long memories JUSTIN BERGMAN tion was needed to “re- players were named in the kept in-house a little bit,”
of watching him play, and Associated Press store public confidence in reports. he said after his quarterfinal
in post-match news con- MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) our sport” and that “noth- The review will be fund- win over David Ferrer on
ferences he has shared — Tennis leaders are tak- ing is off the table.” ed by the Tennis Integrity Wednesday.
what he hopes they learn ing steps at damage con- “I think this is a very bold Board, which oversees the Kermode said the review
from him. trol as they grapple with step. We need to address anti-corruption unit set up panel would have an
“I have had those con- allegations of match-fixing the perception, public by thesport in 2008 to com- open-ended deadline and
versations with them, that in recent media reports, confidence, hit it head on. bat match-fixing. budget and that its findings
hard work brings you some- which have cast a shadow We don’t have anything to would be made public. He
where,” said the Swiss star over the first Grand Slam of hide at all.” It will be led by Adam also said tennis’ governing
who has won a record 17 the year and shaken con- The creation of the review, Smith, a London-based bodies were committed
Grand Slams. fidence in the integrity of which was earlier reported lawyer who is an expert to acting on every recom-
“I told them the other day the sport. by The Associated Press, in sports law. mendation of the panel.
they can be anything they An independent review of came 10 days after the “The last thing any- Among the issues the panel
would want to be as long tennis’ anti-corruption unit BBC and BuzzFeed News one wants is anoth- is expected to examine is
as they work hard at it,” he was announced Wednes- published stories alleging er sports body investigating whether the Tennis Integrity
said, adding that he has day at the Australian Open that tennis authorities had itself,” Kermode said.q Unit (TIU) needs additional
no strong opinion whether in the wake of allegations suppressed evidence of Andy Murray agreed that resources to do its job, how
his offspring inherit his pas- that officials had failed to match-fixing and failed to having an outsider con- it can improve transpar-
sion for tennis, although he properly investigate sus- thoroughly investigate pos- duct the inquiry would give ency without compromis-
has started his daughters pected cases of match- sible cases of corruption it added credibility. ing its investigations, and
on lessons. “I think they fixing. involving 16 players who “Yeah, that’s positive. Sure- whether the sport needs to
need to know whatever ATP Chairman Chris Ker- have ranked in the top 50 ly. I think in these situations expand its integrity educa-
they choose, they have to mode said immediate ac- over the past decade. No I think people become tion programs. q
work hard at it.”q skeptical when it’s sort of
