Reigning Australian Open boys champion Oliver Anderson has been "charged with match fixing, in a corruption scandal set to send shockwaves through the tennis world only days before the start of the year's first grand slam," according to Nino Bucci of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. The 18-year-old from Brisbane was "charged on Thursday with fixing a match at the Traralgon Challenger tournament last October." Less than nine months earlier, he "lifted the trophy as the winner of the Australian Open junior boys title at Melbourne Park." Anderson is coached by "well-known former professional Wayne Arthurs, and is regarded as immensely talented." A spokesperson for the Anderson family said, "Oliver is cooperating fully with authorities. He now awaits the legal process." Victoria Police sporting integrity intelligence unit detectives charged Anderson "on summons with engaging in conduct that corrupts a betting outcome after an investigation which also involved Latrobe Valley detectives and bookmakers." He will appear at the Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court on March 2. It is alleged that Anderson was "approached to tank, or throw, the first set of his first round match, against another Australian, Harrison Lombe." He lost the first set 4-6, but won the next two 6-0, 6-2 (SMH, 1/5). In London, Simon Briggs reported it is only 12 months since the '16 Australian Open "was overshadowed by match-fixing allegations." As a result, tennis' defenses against match-fixing "have been reinforced." Tennis Australia Integrity & Compliance Head Ann West said, "We have upped the ante. [But] it's disappointing, there's no doubt about it. You would be naive to say it wasn't" (TELEGRAPH, 1/5). Also in London, Sean Ingle reported an independent review into the integrity of tennis, "which will examine allegations of corruption in the sport and the effectiveness of existing anti-corruption practices and procedures, is expected to report shortly" (GUARDIAN, 1/5).
