MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Roger Federer has heard enough speculation about match-fixing in tennis. If players are suspected of corruption, he wants names.
Federer was responding to reports by BBC and BuzzFeed News that tennis authorities have suppressed evidence of match-fixing and overlooked suspected cases involving players ranked in the top 50, including Grand Slam singles and doubles winners.
The reports said that none of these players had faced sanctions and more than half would be playing at this year’s Australian Open, which started Monday. The players weren’t identified by name.
“I would love to hear names,” Federer said after beating Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia 6-2, 6-1, 6-2. “Then at least it’s concrete stuff and you can actually debate about it. Was it the player? Was it the support team? Who was it? Was it before? Was it a doubles player, a singles player? Which Slam?”
ATP chairman Chris Kermode appeared at a news conference to reject the assertion that match-fixing had gone unchecked in the sport, saying the Tennis Integrity Unit remained “constantly vigilant and not complacent” when it comes to tackling corruption.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Oregon State forward Jarmal Reid was suspended at least four games by the school a day after sticking out his leg and tripping a referee late in a loss to Utah.
Reid made eye contact with official Tommy Nunez before tripping him. The senior apologized when Oregon State announced the suspension, which was affirmed by the Pac-12 Conference.
Coach Wayne Tinkle said Reid’s conduct over the next two weeks will determine if additional discipline will be taken.
Reid sent Nunez tumbling to the court and was ejected with 2:56 remaining in Utah’s 59-53 win over Oregon State in Salt Lake City on Sunday night.
BASKETBALL
LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony are a step closer to a fourth Olympics, and Stephen Curry is in position for his first.
The NBA stars were among 30 players selected as finalists for the U.S. basketball team that will attempt to win a third straight gold medal.
The final 12-player roster for Rio de Janeiro will be chosen this summer. If James and Anthony are on it they would become the first American men to play in four Olympics.
Kobe Bryant, who is retiring after this season, took himself out of the running for a third Olympics this weekend.
NFL
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Eagles hired Doug Pederson to be their coach.
Pederson was Kansas City’s offensive coordinator the past three seasons.
Pederson accepted the offer to become Philadelphia’s coach last week. The team had to wait for the Chiefs to be eliminated from the playoffs before making it official.
Pederson started nine games as quarterback for the Eagles in 1999. He replaces Chip Kelly, who was fired one game before completing his third season.
The Eagles interviewed six candidates, including two-time Super Bowl champion Tom Coughlin.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams and San Diego Chargers held their first meeting to discuss sharing a stadium that is under construction in Inglewood.
The teams released a joint statement saying they had held the first negotiating session as the Chargers look to possibly become the second team in the Los Angeles area.
The Chargers have a one-year option to reach a lease agreement and become a tenant of the stadium whose construction is being headed by Rams owner Stan Kroenke.
NFL owners approved the Rams’ move from St. Louis and the Chargers’ option to leave San Diego at a meeting last week.
The very brief statement says the two sides have agreed not to publicly discuss details of the negotiations.
DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Tigers agreed to a $132.75 million, six-year contract with free-agent outfielder Justin Upton, according to a person with knowledge of the deal.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not been announced. The deal was pending a physical, and Upton can opt out after two seasons.
The 28-year-old Upton gives the Tigers another powerful bat in the middle of the lineup and fills a need in left field after Detroit traded slugger Yoenis Cespedes at the deadline last year. Upton hit .251 with 26 home runs and 81 RBIs for the San Diego Padres last season.
It was another big move for the Tigers, who are coming off a last-place finish in 2015 but signed right-hander Jordan Zimmermann earlier this offseason. Detroit also traded for closer Francisco Rodriguez, but it was unclear how high the Tigers would be willing to increase a payroll that also includes big commitments to Miguel Cabrera, Justin Verlander, Victor Martinez, Anibal Sanchez and Ian Kinsler.
MIAMI (AP) — Dee Gordon put his signature on a $50 million, five-year contract with the Miami Marlins as more than a dozen relatives watched from the front row at a news conference.
The 5-foot-11 Gordon is a frustrated basketball player who switched to baseball in college and became a late bloomer. Last season he led the NL in batting (.333), hits (205) and stolen bases (58), won a Gold Glove at second base and made the All-Star team.
It was his first year in Miami after he was traded by the Dodgers in a seven-player deal.
Among those attending the news conference was Gordon’s father, Tom, who had a 21-year career as a major league pitcher thanks to a succession of one-year contracts.
Gordon joins Giancarlo Stanton and Christian Yelich among Marlins regulars with long-term contracts.
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