A low-key first-round match at the 2022 Roland Garros qualifying tournament has been picked out over accusations of match-fixing.
French newspaper L'Equipe is citing several sources inside the Parisian police about an investigation into a match at the French Open due to an abnormally high number of bets placed.
The first-round encounter between Bernabe Zapata Mirallas and Dudi Sela is being investigated after odd betting patterns were discovered. Spain's Zapata Miralles defeated his Israeli rival Sela 6-3, 6-0, in under an hour.
It has been reported that a significant number of online bets were placed on the match by three operators situated in the territories of Cyprus, Ukraine, and Armenia. Tennis authorities take any allegations of match-fixing very seriously, as it tarnishes the integrity and professionalism of the sport.
No investigation has been opened, but French prosecutors are understood to have launched a probe into possible match-fixing after the second set lasted a mere 16 minutes, which is unusual for a standard set in professional tennis.
The 37-year-old Sela is a veteran in men's tennis, peaking at a career-high ranking of No. 29 in the past. However, he is currently ranked outside the world’s top 400. He managed to get into the qualifying draw using a protected ranking.
Prior to Roland Garros, Sela last played at the Australian Open, also in the qualifying rounds, in early January. He lost to another Spaniard, Mario Vilella Martinez. He also claimed that this was the last season of his professional career.
The one-hander has earned almost $4 million in prize money since turning pro in 2002, but he has never won an ATP title. Most of his success has been on the ATP Challenger, where he has lifted 23 titles.
Zapata Miralles, meanwhile, won two more matches in qualifying to reach the main draw of Roland Garros for the second time and will hope for a more cushy opening round this time after losing to Carlos Alcaraz last year.
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