Davydenko gives an explanation for betting scandal
…but it sounds unlikely to me. Why would anyone risk that kind of money unless it were a sure thing?
Davydenko, seeded fourth, said he had done nothing wrong in Poland and was confident he would be cleared in the ATP investigation.
Betfair, an online bookmaker, voided all bets on a match between Davydenko and Argentina’s Martin Vassallo Arguello in Sopot on Aug. 2 after the Russian player retired, citing a foot injury in the third set.
The betting agency said it received about $7 million in wagers on the match, 10 times the usual amount for a similar-level match. Most of the money was on the 87th-ranked Arguello, even after he lost the first set.
Asked for a possible explanation yesterday, Davydenko said it was a small tournament, with lots of Russian spectators and that some of them might have overheard him talking to his entourage in the stands.
“Everything was going on. I spoke in the center court with my wife . . . (in) Russian,” he said. “Maybe it’s possible, if I can say something, ‘I don’t want to play or I can retire.’ . . . some people can understand.
“It may be my mistake because I need to be quiet, I need to be concentrating, I need to do only my job. Not to do something, talking with anyone or something like this in the stadium.” Boston Herald