December 30, 2007	Sunday	Zilhaj 19, 1428

PERTH, Dec 29: Serbian young gun Novak Djokovic backed Saturday measures being introduced by tennis officials to prevent any corruption in the game.

Australian Open officials have introduced measures, including possibly pursuing criminal charges against players, aimed at preventing any illegal gambling or match-fixing at next month’s Grand Slam.

The ATP also confirmed this week Italian tennis players Potito Starace and Daniele Bracciali have been banned and fined for betting on matches, ruling them both out of the Australian Open.

Announcing the punishments, the ATP, the governing body for the men’s game, warned that players and support staff would be disciplined if evidence of betting on matches was discovered.

World No.3 Djokovic said here on Saturday it was important for the image of tennis that any incidents of betting on matches were nipped in the bud.

“It is really bad, and negative, to hear that something like that is going on in our sport,” Djokovic said as he prepared for matches at the Hopman Cup. “Tennis is a very special sport, an individual sport, and you don’t get a lot of chance to bet. I just hope that our sport is not going in that direction.

“People have learned a lesson, especially the people who are in charge of the tournaments and in general in the ATP and the WTA, in the last couple of months. Hopefully, it will effect in a positive way in the upcoming season.”

His comments also come as an investigation continues into Russian world number four Nikolay Davydenko after suspicious betting patterns emerged in a match he played in Poland in August.

Organisers of the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of 2008, announced their measures this month that also include fines and bans for any player found to be involved in match-fixing.

Djokovic declined comment on the severity of penalties, but said he supported any moves to clear the sport of the current cloud of suspicion.

“It is good that they are really taking care of that,” he said. “It is not good that we have a betting scandal and match fixing in tennis. The Australian federation is trying to do everything they can to stop that and I support that fact.”

Djokovic’s Serbian team-mate at the Hopman Cup, Jelena Jankovic, declined to comment on the matter.—AFP