Match-fixing probe at French Open after 'hundreds of thousands of euros were gambled on Russian player's serve being broken' before she double faulted
- French Open game is being investigated following suspicions of match-fixing
- Bookmakers raised the alarm after noticing unusual betting patterns in a game
- It is said to have occurredĀ in a women's doubles game during the first round
- Reports claim bets were placed on Russia's Yana Sizikova's serve to be broken
TheĀ French OpenĀ has become embroiled in a match-fixing scandal after police began investigating a women's doubles match which was flagged by bookmakers for unusual betting activity.
French prosecutors on Tuesday said they have opened an investigation into alleged match-fixing in a women's doubles match at the French Open.
The prosecutors' office said the investigation into 'fraud in an organised group' and 'active and passive corruption', was related to a doubles match between Romanian pair of Andreea Mitu and Patricia Mari and Russian Yana Sizikova and American Madison Brengle on September 30.Ā
AĀ French Open women's doubles match is being investigated after suspicions of match-fixing
The game in question was a first-round women's doubles match between Romanian pair Andreea Mitu and Patricia Maria Tig and Madison Brengle (bottom left) and Yana Sizikova (bottom right)
Reports suggests that hundreds of thousands of euros in bets were placed on Sizikova's (pictured) serve to be broken inĀ the fifth game of the second set on September 30
According to German newspaper WELT,Ā hundreds of thousands of euros in bets were placed on Sizikova's serve to be broken, leading to suspicions of fraud.Ā
Footage from the game showed that the 25-year-old Russian was broken in the fifth set, as she served double-faults in the first and final points before stumbling while failing to reach a return at 15-0.Ā Ā Ā
L'Equipe have also reported that large sums of money were bet on the Romanians winning the game and that the wagers were placed in several countries through Paris-based gambling outlets.
Mitu and Mari won the first-round encounter 7-6 (10-8), 6-4, before being knocked out in the third round on Sunday.Ā
Yana Sizikova is currently ranked 652nd in the WTA singles rankings with a career high ofĀ 336
Madison Brengle has a current WTA singles ranking of 78, reaching a career high ofĀ 35 in 2015
Tig (L) and Mitu (R) eventually crashed out in the third round of the women's doubles
The Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU), which deals with match-fixing cases, has declined to comment on the matter.
The incident comes months after Brazil's Joao Souza was handed a lifetime banĀ after he was found guilty of numerous match-fixing charges.
The ultimate sanction, in conjunction with a $200,000 (Ā£153,000) fine for the 31-year-old, came following an investigation by the TIU.
Souza was found to have committed multiple breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP), including incidents of match-fixing at ATP Challenger and ITF Futures tournaments held in Brazil, Mexico, the United States and Czech Republic.
All four players have been approached for comment by Sportsmail.
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