Match-fix, Gambling Plot or Playing It Smart?

Caroline Wozniacki who is ranked 6th in the world quit during her first-round match at the Luxembourg Tennis Open with a hamstring injury. She was winning 7-5, 5-0. Prior to her second set, her father advised her to stop because he was afraid that her injury would prevent her from playing in the next round. According to numerous reports, Mr. Wozniacki's comments to his daughter were picked up by the microphones and also heard by viewers who were watching the game on the internet.

At this point your asking yourself, what is the big deal? Apparently, when her father was overheard by microphones and throughout cyberspace advising his daughter to quit, this lead to a surge in online bets for the opponent to win. Because of the betting online the Women's Tennis Association felt there was sufficient reason to bring in the tennis integrity unit to investigate.

Caroline Wozniacki, will more than likely be cleared by the investigation, but how sad is it that a 6th ranked player can't quit a match because she is injured and does not want to risk being out of the entire tournament due to her injury. According to one source, she may still be fined for "lack of effort". Since when is it improper to quit a match because of an injury? For more information about this match go to http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/news/story?id=4584676&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines

Persoanlly, I find the whole thing ridiculous. What do you think?

Serena's Meltdown

Serena Williams has been fined $10,000.00 for her outburst on the court towards a line judge that allegedly made a bad call. Williams, upset about the call, told the line judge that she was lucky she was not shoving the ball down her throat. Explicit language was used during her temper tantrum. She also received an additional fine of $500.00 for racket abuse which occurred prior to her meltdown.

http://msn.foxsports.com/tennis/pgStory?contentId=10063000#sport=TENNIS&photo=10062904

According to numerous articles, suspension from next years tournament may be possible. If the administrator of the Grand Slam Committee finds that she committed a major offense, she will not only be suspended from the tournament next year, she will also be fined all of the money that she earned at the tournament. Quite Frankly, I think that is going to far. Granted, what she did was uncalled for, but we have all said things we have regretted. I realize she may be held to a higher standard because of her status, but she is human and it is not like she has had these outbursts before. This is a very minimal infraction compared to other professional athletes who have done far worse. She has paid for her actions, let it go.

Williams did apologize and amended her original apology on Sunday, to add, " I need to make it clear to all young people that I handled myself inappropriately and it's not the way to act -- win or lose, good call or bad call in any sport, in any manner." Williams has admitted her unprofessional behavior and appeared to be very sincere in her statements. If this type of behavior continues to be an issue for her then more severe consequences should be sought, but this is only one incident. The fines she received were more than adequate, lets not make a mountain out of a mole hill.