Unusual betting pattern reported at Wimbledon

[The Buzz]

There have been rumors of betting improprieties in tennis for the last few years (most famously involving Nikolay Davydenko in 2007). Wimbledon is currently underway and Betfair alerted tennis corruption investigators about the unusual betting patterns for the first-round match between American Wayne Odesnik and Austrian Jurgen Melzer.

According to the AP, "Betfair received more than six times as many wagers as it would normally receive for such a match. Melzer's odds 'shortened significantly,' (Betfair spokesman Mark) Davies said, after a TV announcer noted shortly before the match that Odesnik has a thigh injury. Melzer won 6-1, 6-4, 6-2.

Betfair received about $980,000 in wagers on the match, Davies said; the average for a first-round match at Wimbledon is less than $163,000.

"It's being reported as potential corruption, but I don't see it that way at all," Davies told The Associated Press. "I doubt that there was any wrongdoing."

Still, Betfair has reported the heavy betting to the International Tennis Federation's integrity unit.

[Betpartners]

Just Betfair following protocol, chances are certain people knew about the injury and took advantage, doubt anything untoward here.

Be idiots if there was, Wimbledon is not the place to try a fix.

[casinojack]

Im surprised... this happens more then you know....

[Anthony]

This story shows the system works.

If a local bookie ran into something like that, no one would know and there would be no way to investigate if something was indeed wrong.

[RockbetJohn]

another good selling point for online sportsbetting. These irregular better patterns are just full of information

[Betpartners]

not all sportsbooks report it though

betfair pioneered this reporting stuff with their agreements with the authorities.

some still need to follow suit

[casino_boy]

Exactly, said said above by 'Betpartners', not all, infact most of the bookies never report such stuff. After all why would they as long as they profit more than expected. MAtchfixing can be suspected when sales go unexpected on one side.

[TheGooner]

Originally Posted by The Buzz

Betfair alerted tennis corruption investigators about the unusual betting patterns for the first-round match between American Wayne Odesnik and Austrian Jurgen Melzer.

According to the AP, "Betfair received more than six times as many wagers as it would normally receive for such a match. Melzer's odds 'shortened significantly,' (Betfair spokesman Mark) Davies said, after a TV announcer noted shortly before the match that Odesnik has a thigh injury.

Melzer won 6-1, 6-4, 6-2.

Hold on.

- Odesnik was reported to have a thigh injury on TV
- Punters pile into the fit player who's odds drop
- Fit player wins easily in straight sets

Where exactly is the match fixing or impropriety?

How many times do we see this an hour before kickoff on Saturday afternoons as football team lineups are announced?! Every week ...

Isn't this a fit and proper market finding the "true value" of a bet with new information ?