Russian tennis player Yana Sizikova has been released from police custody a day after being arrested at the French Open over match-fixing allegations related to last year's tournament.
"She has been released, her custody has been lifted," says Sizikova's lawyer, Frederic Belot.
Last September, French prosecutors opened an investigation into fraud in an organised group and "active and passive corruption" over alleged match fixing in a women’s doubles match at the 2020 French Open.
The investigation related to a match between Romanian pair Andreea Mitu and Patricia Mari and Sizikova and American Madison Brengle. The Romanians won the match before being knocked out in the third round.
Belot explained that it was alleged that Sizikova and her doubles partner lost a service game on purpose, with the Russian serving double faults.
He added that Sizikova had contacted tennis authorities last year and that she provided them with an explanation, which he says "satisfied" them.
"It is therefore serenely and in the best possible state of mind that Yana Sizikova went to Paris a week ago to play in the 2021 French Open women's doubles tournament," says Belot.
"She and her father were extremely shocked when she was arrested."
Shamil Tarpischev, president of the Russian Tennis Federation, said that he had been informed of Sizikova’s detention.
"We have not received any documents (regarding the case), so it’s difficult to make an assessment of what has happened," Tarpischev says.
The Russian Tennis Federation did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency, the independent anti-corruption body set up by the sport's governing bodies, was not immediately available to confirm it had been contacted.
The Women's Tennis Association (WTA), which runs the women's tour, could not be immediately reached either.
The 26-year-old Moscow native is a doubles specialist, reaching a career-high ranking of No.89 in March 2020.
Reuters.
