Australian tennis player Bernard Tomic was the subject of a police investigation into alleged match-fixing activities, with suspicious betting patterns linked to two of his matches, including a 2022 Australian Open qualifying match.
The investigation, led by Australian law enforcement agencies in collaboration with the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), was triggered after online bookmakers flagged unusual betting activity during Tomic’s qualifying match against Russia’s Roman Safiullin at the 2022 Australian Open. Authorities also examined a separate match Tomic played in a Challenger event in Turkey.
During the Australian Open qualifying three years ago, Tomic lost 6-1 6-4 to Safiullin and made headlines during the match for telling the chair umpire that he believed he would soon test positive for COVID-19. “I’m sure in the next two days I will test positive. I’m telling you, I’ll buy you dinner if I don’t test positive in three days, otherwise you buy me dinner,” he said. He indeed tested positive for COVID-19 two days later, further fueling controversy surrounding the match.
The ITIA, responsible for safeguarding the integrity of professional tennis, launched a formal investigation. Tomic’s phone was seized, and he was questioned extensively as part of the probe. However, despite the concerns raised by betting irregularities, both the police and the ITIA concluded their investigations without finding sufficient evidence to proceed with criminal charges.
A Tennis Australia spokesperson acknowledged the reports, stating:
“Tennis Australia’s integrity team has worked with the ITIA and law enforcement agencies since first being alerted to concerns relating to betting activity. We have been advised there is insufficient evidence to pursue charges further.”
Tomic, a former Wimbledon quarterfinalist and once heralded as one of Australia’s most promising tennis talents, has faced a career decline in recent years. Currently ranked 212th in the world, he failed to qualify for the 2025 Australian Open after losing in the first round of qualifying.
The 31-year-old’s career has been marred by controversies, including multiple fines for tanking, public outbursts, and disciplinary issues throughout his time on the ATP Tour. While the latest investigation has not resulted in formal charges, the attention surrounding the case has reignited scrutiny over match-fixing concerns in professional tennis.
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