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Keys Hesitant To Denounce Tennis Betting
11 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles
One of the hot potato topics in pro tennis today is the controversy of betting on tennis matches and the sometimes disturbing consequences. 2025 Australian Open champion Madison Keys, who has been victimized in the past by anonymous gamblers, sees the benefits and problems caused by increased wagering…
Question: You’ve been vocal throughout your career about the pitfalls of social media on particularly the women players. A lot of that stems from gambling in sport. Is gambling good or bad for tennis these days?
Madison Keys: “I don’t think it’s a black-and-white answer, just because I think it depends on who you’re asking. Obviously there’s a lot of partnerships that come from betting. So 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. So in that way, I can see where it’s really beneficial… as far as the players on the receiving end of a lot of the bettors being very angry, I would say it’s obviously not my favorite thing. So I think it kind of just comes from which side are you looking at. I wish that there was a way to obviously have all of the great benefits that the tournaments get from it with a little bit more protection for the players who are on the receiving end of the bettors who are losing money.”
Sports Business Journal quoted an ATP tournament director saying a tournament sponsored by a betting company can profit the event in the six-figure range.
BNP Paribas Open · Madison Keys
catherine · March 6, 2025 at 10:08 am
Madison wants it both ways. Unfortunately that’s not possible. Recent events have surely demonstrated how quickly losing bettors behaviour can turn rancid – and how on earth can players be protected from ‘fans’ who are losing money when we don’t know who they are ?
Ban betting would be a good idea but I can’t honestly see that idea flying.
Scoop Malinowski · March 6, 2025 at 11:07 am
Sports betting is here to stay Catherine, it’s a billion dollar industry. With that of course naturally comes match fixing and permanently banned players like Dolgopolov. Keys and others will just need to keep quiet about the social media comments.
Scoop Malinowski · March 6, 2025 at 6:38 pm
Raducanu fought hard but she has no confidence. Could be finished. Uchijima did look impressive though, good mix of rally balls and power shots. But the story is Raducanu is a ghost of herself. Confidence can’t be bought at the pro shop and nobody is giving her anything free on the court.
catherine · March 7, 2025 at 5:32 am
Scoop –
Considering what Emma’s had to struggle with this season I’m not surprised her confidence is shot. (Good piece in the Guardian today.) I had no idea her stalker had been following her at every tournament she’s played. Explains why her mother was with her in Singapore.
The WTA has been quite good, for once, in dealing with the whole issue. Men, of course, don’t have stalkers as far as I know.
(You yourself note that the fallout from betting is most likely to affect women players.)
Emma hesitated about IW. But I think she made the right decision regardless of the result.
Scoop Malinowski · March 7, 2025 at 8:06 am
Catherine, It’s possible most of the injuries were covers and this stalking incident is being used as a cover for the fact she just can’t win matches. This cruel dilemma happens to so many players – no matter how hard they train, sacrifice, dedicate, work, focus on their tennis – sometimes sadly there is no payoff. Not every one can win, no matter how much they put into it. I know a guy with three coaches and a physical trainer in NJ who is trying to be a great amateur player. But for two years he trained like a demon and still makes a ton of errors and barely improved a fraction. He just can’t win despite all the efforts and hard work. It’s a cruel game and Emma and Nick are vivid examples that no matter how hard you work, it doesn’t always pay off.
Steve · March 7, 2025 at 9:33 am
I felt so bad for Kolay the Obscure (Davydenko) who once got the yips on his serve so bad he was investigated for match fixing. He used get the yips fairly often.
“Nikolay Davydenko was cleared by the ATP yesterday after a year-long investigation into suspicious betting patterns on a match the Russian lost to a lowly-ranked opponent. The ATP, the governing body of men’s tennis, said it found “no evidence” of wrongdoing by Davydenko, Argentinian Martin Vassallo Arguello or anyone else associated with their match in Sopot, Poland, on August 2 last year.”
Scoop Malinowski · March 7, 2025 at 9:44 am
Davydenko had perfect technique, a marvel of a player. I still remember talking with Tursunov about him and the sense of awe and respect he had for Davydenko who had recently retired. Looking back with more understanding of the establishment’s anti Russian bias, no matter how talented Davydenko was, they were never going to let him be no. 1. I think he was better than some no. 1s. He might have had the most perfect technique of all time aside from Mr. Djokovic of course.
catherine · March 8, 2025 at 1:35 am
Scoop-
Raducanu has been under the spotlight since she was 18 and just left school. Her life in tennis since then has been a mixture of moderate achievement, chronic injury, unbelievably hostile social media attention and unrealistic expectation.
For a couple of years she’s been the target of stalking which became public recently. That’s a lot.
I think she’s a talented player who’s had a hard time. And sometimes money doesn’t make up for the bad stuff.
No sensible young woman would invent stalking by a clearly unstable man as a cover for losing tennis matches.
I just hope she can settle with a good coach, have a decent career and retire on her own terms.
Scoop Malinowski · March 8, 2025 at 8:39 am
Catherine, My take: Raducanu created the biggest tennis miracle in history which shocked even herself. As for her future, it was the opposite of a blessing in disguise. All the fame and fortunes came too seen and also the resentment of her peers and rivals who are all extra-motivated to beat little miss britches. She has worked incredibly hard in practice but for three years has nothing to show for it. She expected to win many more tournaments and even grand slams but can barely get by the second round of small events. Sponsor pressure, losing $11m a year, stalkers, pressure to win… her career is a living nightmare now with no joy. But she keeps carrying on chasing the dream. Show me a hero and I’ll show you a tragedy…
Steve · March 10, 2025 at 8:18 am
@Scoop the announcers used to to refer to him “the light-weight Agassi”, taking everything on the rise with perfect timing. I always liked his humble, unassuming nature. I think his winning run at the WTF beating Delpo in the finals if my 2nd fav. WTF of all time.
#1 would be the one in China that featured Gasquet and the terracotta statues of each player. Gasquet had his statue shipped to his home town and it is standing there.
Scoop Malinowski · March 10, 2025 at 8:44 am
WTF moments… what about Sampras serve that bullet holed right through Rafter’s strings in Cincy or Indy final? Been a lot of WTF moments. US Open chair umpire calling Capriati’s winner out though the replay showed it was about a foot inside the sideline. Or the homicidal maniac who almost murdered Seles in broad daylight not getting a day in jail. Obvious inside job. My lasting memory of Ferrer, I have two. Mike Belkin the Canadian player of note, watching with us at the bar at Miami Open saying Ferrer was like a killer on the court, on every point, so much intensity. And hearing Ferrer was a chain smoker.