By Chris Oddo | Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Unfortunately, tennis is taking a back seat to match-fixing at this year’s Australian Open. And not even the top player in the world is immune.

After his 6-1, 6-2, 7-6(3) victory over French wild card Quentin Halys, Novak Djokovic was grilled in press about an article that surfaced in the Italian publication “Tuttosport,” which insinuated that Djokovic “wanted to lose” his match to Frenchman Fabrice Santoro at the Paris Masters in 2007.

The world No. 1 calmly denied all accusations, explaining himself in detail, before a moderator stepped in.

“It's not true,” said Djokovic,” of the 6-3, 6-2 defeat to Santoro, which came at a time that Djokovic was on medication due to dental procedures.

The allegations come at a time when rumors about match-fixing in tennis are swirling, just days after the joint report by the BBC and Buzzfeed shocked the tennis world. Earlier in the week Djokovic admitted that he was approached, through members of his team at the time, and indirectly offered $200,000 to fix a match in St. Petersburg.

“I was approached through people that were working with me at that time, that were with my team,” he said. “Of course, we threw it away right away. It didn't even get to me, the guy that was trying to talk to me, he didn't even get to me directly. There was nothing out of it.”

On Thursday morning in Melbourne, he categorically denied any wrongdoing in the Santoro match.

“I've lost that match,” he said. “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 a story about any match. That's my point. There hasn't been too many matches where top players lost in last decade or so in early rounds. You can pick any match that you like that the top player lost and just create a story out of it. I think it's not supported by any kind of proof, any evidence, any facts. It's just speculation. So I don't think there is a story about it.”

Djokovic will continue his bid for a record sixth Australian Open title against Italian Andreas Seppi in the third round.

The Serb improved to 52-6 lifetime at the Australian Open by cracking 42 winners against 14 unforced errors and winning 15 of 17 points at the net.

“I think I played a good match,” Djokovic said. “Third set was a close set. Was a battle. Credit to him for fighting, for serving well.”