Federer Says he Does Not Want to Harm Tennis

Written by: Staff on 21st October 2010

Federer Says he Does Not Want to Harm Tennis |

Roger Federer has stressed his innocence as the ongoing Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) investigation gathers place following allegations that Teddy Forstmann, the billionaire chairman of IMG wagered $40,000 on the Swiss former world no.1 to beat Rafael Nadal in the 2007 French Open final.

IMG is of course one of the most influential companies involved not only in tennis but the world of sports. Both Federer and Nadal are clients as is the All England Club and the United States Tennis Association and the company owns numerous high profile events around the world.

Forstmann is alleged to have had a pre-match telephone conversation with Federer in which the player stressed confidence that he would beat Nadal to win his first ever French title. Nadal subsequently won the final 6-3,4-6,6-3,6-4.

Federer is appalled that his name has been dragged into a case that he insists he knows nothing about. When questioned the 29 year-old multi-millionaire world said: “I would hope that it’s obviously not true but because it involves my name somewhere out there, I know it’s 100% not true.

“I’m pretty relaxed about this because I’m for complete honesty in this sport, to leave the game better off than when I arrived, even though it was already a great platform I had.

“The last thing I would do is harm the sport or create a negative light on the sport. So it’s disappointing that someone is throwing my name around. I would never do such a thing.

“My fans know that and the people who know me know that. I have nothing to hide. I’m sorry for those who think there is something to the story.”

The allegations were registered in a lawsuit filed by Jim Agate, a businessman who once played both tennis and golf with Forstmann. The suit concerns a claim for ‘gambling-connected tax-losses.”

Under TIU statutes, Forstmann would be considered a ‘Covered Person’ which is a category that embraces players, coaches, physiotherapists, journalists, tournament support personnel and agents. The TIU, commissioned by the International Tennis Federation in conjunction with both the ATP World Tour and WTA Tour, quickly formulated a list of guidelines and regulations and high up is the insistence: “No Covered Person shall, directly or indirectly, wager or attempt to wager on the outcome or any other aspect of any event or any other tennis competition.”

According to Agate, telephone records filed with the Los Angeles County Court provide clear evidence that Forstmann placed a call to him on the night before the 2007 French Open final at Roland Garros. Agate subsequently made a wager on Federer with a Costa Rican betting service.

Topics: Agate, Allegations, Billionaire Chairman, Businessman, England Club, French Open, French Title, Influential Companies, Innocence, Profile Events, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Sport Game, States Tennis Association, Tax Losses, Teddy Forstmann, Telephone Conversation, United States Tennis, United States Tennis Association, World Of Sports