[Aileen]

Murray is also one that believes doping is going on isn't he, or was that match fixing? I'd love if Fed was exposed as a cheat, that would mean 3 grand slams went to Andy

Although he's spoken out about wanting zero tolerance in sport generally and not just tennis, I don't recall him saying that it actually goes on, but this article appeared in the Daily Mail on 9 October 2007 -

There is match-fixing in tennis says British No.1 Andy Murray

Andy Murray today sensationally claimed that tennis is "fixed" and that everyone on the professional circuit knows matches are being affected by gambling.

He said: "It's pretty disappointing for all the players but everyone knows it goes on."

The sport has been tainted by controversy in recent weeks with the ATP, the men's tour's governing body, investigating betting patterns concerning a match in Poland between Nikolay Davydenko and Martin Vassallo Arguello.

The Russian's price drifted out despite him winning the first set and he later pulled out of the match due to injury, although Davydenko denies any wrongdoing.

Novak Djokovic recently claimed he was offered a £110,000 bribe to lose a first-round match in St Petersburg while journeyman Belgian Gilles Elseneer revealed that he rejected an offer of £70,000 to throw a match at Wimbledon in 2005.

With horse racing currently being dragged through the mire by the start of the Kieren Fallon race-fixing trial, Murray now fears tennis is at risk as the temptation to cheat is too great for players struggling at the lower end of the circuit.

Speaking ahead of the Kremlin Cup, in Moscow, he added: "It doesn't surprise me. Some guys come to tournaments like this every single week and the first-round loser's cheque is sort of €2,500 and they have got to pay for their air fares and, you know, it's only a 10 or 12-year career so you have to make all your money while you're still playing."

But the British No1 told Radio Five Live he feels the nature of the sport makes it difficult to prove when someone is trying to engineer an outcome.

Murray admitted: "It's difficult to prove because they can try their best until the last couple of games of each set and then make some mistakes, a couple of double faults, and that's it."

It would be interesting to hear his views on this matter five years down the line.

Also about a year ago there were rumours that Fed had been involved in match-fixing earlier in his career, but he strongly refuted the claims, although that didn't stop him from seeking legal advice on the matter and no more was heard about it.  Much as I dislike Fed I can't really imagine him doing such a thing, because he was too good a player to feel the need to resort to it.

[IonaRed]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/atptour/2323405/Andy-Murray-and-Rafael-Nadal-clear-the-air.html

Andy Murray has a possible third-round meeting with Rafael Nadal, the world No 2, at this week's Madrid Masters and yesterday had a brief chat with the Spaniard, in which they discussed the Scot's remarks about players being offered money to throw matches.

On learning that Murray had last week suggested matches had been fixed and that "everyone knows that it's going on", Nadal had indicated that the British No 1 had gone "overboard", saying he had personally seen no evidence of corruption.

Murray yesterday told Nadal his words had been taken out of context, saying he did not mean that players knew matches had been fixed but that everyone had been aware of reports that players had rejected bribes. Murray put out a statement clarifying his remarks last week, but still wanted to talk to Nadal about the matter.

[IonaRed]

Let's face it, Andy was only 20 at the time and a bit of a hot-head, and he does admit at the end of his interview that due to the nature of the sport it's difficult to be certain if a player is throwing a match or not, but there again I think it is generally recognised that some players throw matches simply because they want to retire from the tournament, usually because they want a rest before the next one.  And unusual things can happen as well.  What about the unprecedented 3 consecutive DFs Fed made in his match against Andy in Shanghai which contributed to his loss?

Spot on.

[TheMadHatter]

Nadal has apparently publicly admitted he hates the gym and rarely uses it, and sustains his shape by playing regular tournaments.

I read very little into the rumours though. I did some digging and found a site where many seem to originate from (or are fuelled), which is made by a bunch of paranoid cynics who think all of the tennis players are cheating. Murray's recent rise in form? Definitely drugs. Murray feeling better after changing his diet? Nope, drugs. Murray comes from two sets down? Must be 'roids. Murray gets annoyed at being woken at 4am for a drugs test? Must be because he's doping.

That's what they imply with every story. Murray, Nadal, Djokovic, all on drugs apparently. I assume the site is created by a Federer fan because he's not criticised once. Then the posters on said site laugh and criticise others for being 'wilfully ignorant' and refusing to believe their heroes dope. Nope, we're just not f**king psychos. It's a load of absolute nonsense. They can't seem to grasp the idea of training.

Here, have a gander.

http://tennishasasteroidproblem.blogspot.co.uk/

[Katie]

Agree about that site MH. I've read it a few times before and always come away thinking how they're twisting the facts to suit their own agenda. The site is so paranoid - no player can have a genuine injury or illness, they must be withdrawing from tournaments to miss drugs tests or to dope up for the next tournament etc. It also seems to be very selective in focusing more on the top players - especially on Rafa.

[teejay1]

Let's face it, Andy was only 20 at the time and a bit of a hot-head, and he does admit at the end of his interview that due to the nature of the sport it's difficult to be certain if a player is throwing a match or not, but there again I think it is generally recognised that some players throw matches simply because they want to retire from the tournament, usually because they want a rest before the next one.  And unusual things can happen as well.  What about the unprecedented 3 consecutive DFs Fed made in his match against Andy in Shanghai which contributed to his loss?

Well that rather backs up what I said above about him, and he did have an unfortunate knack of opening his mouth and unwisely saying things to the media which perhaps he would have done better to have kept to himself.  Luckily he's a lot more media savvy these days.

Andy spoke at some length about the issue of betting in his book. If I recall, he was basically tricked into speaking to someone, doing an interview I think, that he was led to believe would be a normal, run of the mill interview. During the interview he kept being asked about betting and didn't understand why. Later, what Andy said was used in a documentary about betting in tennis, but his comments were apparently used in such a way that made them sound worse than they were.

[Littlebuddha]

I do not understand why Rafa and his uncle Tony do not come clean about his injury. It's like the secret service he would make a good James Bond. Really is it too much to ask for him to give a straight answer. Do they think other players are waiting to jump on them. Really it is time for the truth.