Iga Swiatek, world No.2 tennis player, found herself in an awkward position when questioned about gambling's impact on tennis at Indian Wells. Her response highlights the complex relationship between betting and professional sports.
Iga Swiatek, currently preparing for her last-64 clash with Caroline Garcia at the BNP Paribas Open, faced an unexpected challenge off the court. When asked about the impact of gambling on tennis, the Polish star admitted she wasn't prepared to answer such a complex question.
'I don't think I'm ready to answer that question because I never really thought about that much,' Swiatek stated during her press conference. She added, 'There's no point to think if it's good or bad, because it's always going to be there since it's big business.'
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) strictly prohibits professional tennis players from betting on matches, including conspiring to bet or soliciting others to do so. This regulation underscores the sport's efforts to maintain integrity amid the growing popularity of online sports betting.
Swiatek did acknowledge the negative aspects of gambling's influence on tennis, particularly regarding player abuse. 'For sure, we as players feel the negative comments and hate, because people are sometimes losing money because we lose or because we win,' she explained. 'This is what impacts us. For sure, I feel like it's not positive and not good at all.'
The world No.2's comments come in the wake of six players receiving suspensions last year for their connections to a match-fixing syndicate in Belgium. This incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by tennis authorities in combating corruption related to sports betting.
Madison Keys, another player questioned on the topic, echoed Swiatek's sentiments about the complexity of the issue. Keys pointed out the financial benefits for tournaments, stating, 'At the end of the day a lot of the tournaments make a lot of money from the partnerships that they have with betting companies. That's what keeps us having jobs.'
As the debate around gambling's role in tennis continues, players like Swiatek and Keys find themselves navigating a delicate balance between the sport's integrity and the financial realities of modern professional tennis.
