Increasing prize money, limiting credentials and blocking gambling sites from its public Wi-Fi are among the measures Tennis Australia is taking to crack down on corruption.

The TA announced today it has strengthened its National Integrity Unit hiring two fulltime experienced investigators, an information and intelligence officer and a safety and risk manager.

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Last year, the Australian Open was rocked by a joint report from BBC and Buzzfeed alleging 16 players—all of whom have ranked in the Top 50—were linked to match-fixing, but the game's governing bodies declined to act on the information.

In an effort to ensure the integrity of the Australian Open and Australian pro circuit, the TA Increased integrity measures will include:

• An enhanced education and awareness program for all players, coaches, clubs, volunteers, officials, staff and parents

• Increased security vigilance during all Tennis Australia sanctioned events including additional restrictions to player and accreditation access at tournaments

• Product Fee and Integrity Agreements with licensed Australian bookmakers, ensuring mandatory reporting of all suspicious betting alerts

• Increased prize money at the lower levels of the game including Australian Pro Tour events and qualifying and early rounds of Australian Open 2017

• Major investment into anti-corruption measures with a commitment to fully fund and implement within Australia all recommendations from the Independent Review Panel (IRP), led by Adam Lewis QC, into the effectiveness and appropriateness of the current global Tennis Anti-Corruption Program

• Improved processes for information and data sharing between Member Associations, the global Tennis Integrity Unit, law enforcement agencies and the other international governing bodies of tennis

• Anti-Corruption Officers at Tennis Australia-sanctioned professional tournaments

• Extending the block on access to all gambling websites via Tennis Australia public Wi-Fi to include all tournaments.

The TA is hoping increasing prize money in early rounds and qualifying will discourage lower-ranked players from the temptation of major paydays for fixing matches.

“Although we have no evidence of widespread corruption in Australian tennis, we have recognized that the potential to corrupt is there and as such we have taken extensive steps to safeguard our sport,” Tennis Australia President Steve Healy said. “We made the decision to not just sit back and wait for the IRP to hand down their findings but to take immediate action. Our sport needs strong measures implemented now and that’s exactly what we are doing.”

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