Djokovic calls report that he lost on purpose in 2007 'absurd'

In the first week of the Australian Open, we’ve seen some of the best female tennis players in the world get upset and Rafael Nadal lose in the first round in a five-set thriller.

But the unfortunate reality is that what’s happening on court has been overshadowed by match-fixing claims that have rocked the tennis world to its core.

Reports of match-fixing surfaced just before the season’s first Slam began, and players in Melbourne have been forced to answer difficult questions regarding the touchy issue. (Many, like Roger Federer, have gladly addressed the matter.)

Following Novak Djokovic’s second-round victory over Quentin Halys on Wednesday, the world No. 1 was asked about a report from Italian newspaper Tuttosport that he lost to Fabrice Santoro on purpose at the Paris Masters in 2007.

Djokovic was understandably irked by the allegation, though he kept his composure.

“My response is that there’s always going to be, especially these days when there’s lot of speculations … this is not a main story,” the Serb said in his post-match news conference. “[In the] tennis and sports world there’s going to be a lot of allegations. I have nothing more to say. I’ve said everything I needed to say two days ago. Until somebody comes out with the real proof and evidence, it’s only a speculation to me.”

Tennis stars, both past and present, have said that they want names of the reported match-fixers to be released. There’s no indication that names will come out any time soon.

"What it is to say?” Djokovic said. “I've lost that match. I don't know if you're trying to create a story about that match, or for that matter, any of the matches of the top players losing in the early rounds. I think it's just absurd … Anybody can create the story about any match. That’s my point. There hasn’t been too many matches where top players lost in [the] last decade or so, in the early rounds.

"You can pick any match that you like that the top player lost and just create a story about it. It’s not supported by any kind of proof, any evidence, any facts. It’s just speculation. I don’t think there’s a story about it.”

The five-time Aussie Open champion will play Andreas Seppi in the third round.