Major tennis bodies to meet on match-fixing

Concerns about tennis gambling have prompted representatives from the world’s major professional tennis associations to schedule a meeting in London on Friday to discuss ways to avoid match-fixing.

The meeting, which will include the ATP, the International Tennis Federation and the WTA, comes three days after 18th-ranked Andy Murray became the latest player to speak out about corruption in the sport.

“It will be to discuss the next steps needed in order to ensure a tennis-wide integrity unit is created as quickly as possible, but also that it can be as effective as possible across the sport,” ATP spokesman Kris Dent said.

Murray said Tuesday it was difficult to prove if someone was throwing a match, but he added “everyone knows it goes on.”

That prompted the ATP to ask for an immediate meeting.

Suspicions about match-fixing began about two months ago after an online betting site, in an unprecedented move, voided bets on a match in August between fourth-ranked Nikolay Davydenko and 87th-ranked Martin Vassallo Arguello in Poland because of irregular betting patterns.

Davydenko withdrew from the match in the third set because of a foot injury, and the ATP is looking into it.

“The investigation is ongoing and making good progress, although the comprehensive nature of it means we are looking at a bit of time yet before a conclusion is reached,” Dent said.

Murray’s comments also revived earlier talks about a rule requiring players to tell the ATP within two days of any information they may have regarding match-fixing. The rule is set to be formally approved at the next ATP Board meeting in November during the Masters Cup in Shanghai, Dent said.

Maria Sharapova, playing in Moscow for only the third time, lost to teenager Victoria Azarenka, 7-6 (9), 6-2, in the second round of the Kremlin Cup.

The second-seeded Russian, who had been sidelined by a lingering shoulder injury since losing in the third round of the U.S. Open, has never gone past the second round in the event.

Vera Zvonareva upset sixth-seeded Amelie Mauresmo, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, in the first round.

In men’s play, second-seeded Mikhail Youzhny and the third-seeded Murray advanced to the second round. Youzhny beat Ernests Gulbis, 6-3, 6-2, and Murray defeated Evgeny Korolev, 6-2, 6-4.

Two-time defending champion and third-seeded Ivan Ljubicic rallied to beat Mardy Fish, 6-7 (4), 6-2, 7-6 (4), to advance to the quarterfinals of the BA-CA Tennis Trophy in Vienna.

Second-seeded Fernando Gonzalez defeated Jiri Vanek, 6-3, 6-4.

Fourth-seeded Tommy Haas defeated Albert Montanes, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, to reach the quarterfinals of the Stockholm Open.

In first-round play, Bjorn Rehnquist upset Vince Spadea, 6-4, 6-4.

Top-seeded Jelena Jankovic retired because of heat exhaustion after splitting sets with Zi Yan in the second round of the Bangkok Open.

Venus Williams led Caroline Wozniacki, 6-2, 4-1, when rain suspended play.

Jankovic won the first set, 6-4, and lost the second, 7-6 (4).

Defending champion Vania King beat Jill Craybas, 6-1, 3-6, 6-2.

AUTO RACING

Carpentier signs with Gillett Evernham

Former Champ Car standout Patrick Carpentier signed with NASCAR’s Gillett Evernham Motorsports to drive the No. 10 Dodge. Carpentier is replacing Scott Riggs, leaving to drive for Haas CNC Racing next season.

Sprint car standout Ricky Stenhouse Jr. signed with Roush Fenway Racing and will move to stock cars next season.

Stenhouse will run the full ARCA schedule next season in a car fielded by Roush Fenway.

MISCELLANY

Ex-player guilty in crash that killed Magnuson

Former NHL player Rob Ramage was found guilty in Newmarket, Canada, of impaired driving causing death and four other charges in connection with a wreck that killed former Chicago Blackhawks standout Keith Magnuson.

Magnuson died Dec. 15, 2003, when a rental car driven by Ramage slammed head-on into another vehicle in Woodbridge. Magnuson was 56.

Michael Vick’s old jersey has been removed from his high school’s trophy case in Newport News, Va., because of his guilty plea on a federal dogfighting charge.

The suspended NFL quarterback played for two seasons at Warwick High in 1996 and ’97.

Trainer Patrick Biancone, suspended one year for violating horse medication rules, received a temporary stay of his suspension in Lexington while Kentucky racing officials consider his appeal.

Biancone received the suspension last week from Kentucky racing stewards after a search of a refrigerator at his Keeneland barn found snake venom, which can be used to numb a horse’s nerves.

The body of George Gipp, the Notre Dame football player who inspired the rallying cry “Win one for the Gipper,” was exhumed Oct. 4 for DNA testing from a cemetery in Laurium, Mich.

The test was sought by the Gipp family and met legal requirements, Houghton County Medical Examiner Dr. Dawn Nulf said. Nulf declined comment about why the request was made.

Gipp died of pneumonia and a strep infection during his senior year at Notre Dame in 1920.