I can remember, many years ago, Czech player Ivan Lendl was accused of tanking during a match. I don't remember the exact details, but I'm pretty sure it was a "round-robin" type of tournament, so he wasn't out of the tournament, he would just meet a different player as the tournament continued. And he did it because he'd already gone down one set and wanted to save his energy for the next match, which he fully intended to try to win.

Contrast that to what's happening today, when apparently 45 matches over the course of the last five years are under investigation because of "unusual betting practices" - and five Italian players have already been suspended for betting on tennis.

This is what happens when people are allowed to bet on sports, I'm afraid. For all the thousands of people who bet relatively small sums, there are those people that bet fortunes..and when they've got a substantial vested interest in making sure a particular player wins or loses, some people are apt to take steps - such as bribery or threats - to make sure they win.

Unfortunately, this type of thing taints all games, in any sport. Whenever you see a highly-paid professional player - basketball, baseball, even tennis... miss what should be an incredible easy shot... you can no longer think, "Gee, that's unlucky." You have to think, "Did someone pay him to do that?"

It's hard to believe that highly-paid players would play fast and loose with their careers, but clearly some do, and will continue to do so.

I don't know what the solution is, but its a sad time for sports lovers.