NEW YORK — Swiss tennis player Leandro Riedi found himself in an unusual and unsettling situation during his first-round US Open qualifying match, an experience that has reignited the debate over gambling's influence on the sport. The 22-year-old was forced to stop play and report a vocal fan to the chair umpire, not for heckling, but for what he suspected was overly enthusiastic and suspicious cheering linked to a live bet.
Riedi, who ultimately lost his match to Australia's Li Tu, became convinced that a man seated courtside was not a typical supporter but a "bettor" who had placed a live wager on the outcome of a specific point. The incident underscores the growing tension between the increasing accessibility of sports betting and the integrity of athletic competition, where players themselves are now on the front lines of identifying potential manipulation.
The Suspicious Cheers: A Bet Placed Mid-Point
The pivotal moment occurred during a tense second-set tiebreak. Riedi was preparing to serve when he noticed the fan, who had been particularly vocal throughout the match, suddenly become very animated. According to Riedi's account, the man began shouting encouragement specifically during the point, a timing that struck the player as highly irregular. "He was screaming, like, 'Come on, come on, let's go!' in the middle of the point," Riedi explained to reporters after the match. This was not support for a winner or an error, but active cheering while the ball was in play.
What raised Riedi's suspicion to a certainty was the fan's behavior immediately after. The player observed the man quickly look down at his phone right after the point concluded. "I saw him right away checking the phone," Riedi stated. This sequence—intense mid-point vocalization followed by an immediate check of a mobile device—is a pattern often associated with "in-play" or "live" betting, where wagers can be placed on individual points, not just match outcomes.
Feeling that the integrity of the match was being compromised, Riedi made the decisive move to approach chair umpire Hassan Nana. He expressed his concerns, stating he believed the individual was a bettor who had placed a live wager and was now cheering for that specific outcome. Riedi's complaint highlights a new reality for players:
- Unwitting Participants: Athletes can become unknowing actors in a bettor's scheme.
- Psychological Distraction: Irregular cheering patterns are disruptive to concentration.
- Pressure to Perform: The knowledge that a point is the subject of a live bet adds an unnatural pressure.
The Official Response and a Growing Problem
The umpire's ability to act in such a situation is limited by current rules. While officials can remove fans for disruptive behavior, outright expulsion on suspicion of gambling is more complex. According to reports, the umpire spoke to the fan, who denied the allegations. Without concrete proof, the individual was allowed to remain in his seat, though he was reportedly quieter for the remainder of the match.
Riedi was forthright about the impact this had on him. "It has to stop," he asserted, emphasizing that the sport's governing bodies need to take a stronger stand. "It's just not about the player playing. It's about the atmosphere, it's about the integrity of the sport... I think they have to do way more against it." His frustration is shared by many players on tour who have encountered similar scenarios, where the line between a passionate fan and a financially invested spectator has become dangerously blurred.
Tennis and Gambling: A Precarious Relationship
The sport of tennis is considered uniquely vulnerable to betting-related corruption due to its individual nature and the ability to bet on a microscopic level (e.g., point-by-point). The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) was established to combat this threat, but its focus has traditionally been on preventing match-fixing and punishing players who conspire with gamblers. The incident involving Riedi points to a different, more pervasive issue: the passive disruption caused by legal bettors in the stands.
This is not an isolated case. At the 2022 US Open, Frenchman Benoit Paire famously complained about gamblers in the crowd, and numerous other players have spoken out about the distracting nature of fans who are clearly reacting to the status of a live bet on their phones rather than the flow of the match. The prevalence of sports betting apps means anyone with a smartphone can place a wager from their seat in real-time, creating a new challenge for tournament security.
A Call for Action and Player Protection
Riedi's public stance is a call to action for the ATP, WTA, and Grand Slam tournaments. Players are advocating for clearer protocols and greater authority for officials to remove individuals suspected of courtside betting. Potential measures could include:
- Enhanced Monitoring: Training event staff to identify the behavior patterns of live bettors.
- Stronger Collaboration: Working directly with betting companies to identify and flag suspicious wagering activity in real-time.
- Updated Rules: Explicitly granting umpires the power to eject fans for gambling-related disruption, even without absolute proof.
- Designated Zones: Creating specific, monitored areas for fans who wish to engage in live betting, isolating the distraction from the general audience.
While the fan in question denied being a bettor, Riedi said he was "100% sure" of what he witnessed. His decision to speak out shines a necessary light on a grey area in the sport's defense against gambling's influence. It's no longer just about preventing fixed matches; it's about protecting the very sanctity of the competition from the potentially corrosive presence of in-play financial interest, ensuring the game is decided by skill and nerve alone, not by the cheers of a courtside gambler.