Feliciano Lopez denies 2017 match-fixing allegation; TIU responds

UPDATE—The Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) has issued a response to Feliciano Lopez's statement:

"We respect the comments made by Feliciano Lopez, but notwithstanding that we continue to maintain the confidentiality policy that is applied to all investigative matters."

Former doubles partners Feliciano Lopez and Marc Lopez have been identified in an alleged match-fixing incident by Spanish publication El Confidencial.

The story, released Tuesday, claims ex-soccer player Carlos Aranda had inside information about the pair’s 2017 Wimbledon doubles match against Matt Reid and John-Patrick Smith, which the Australians ultimately won in four sets. The supposed ‘tip’ came from a phone conversation on Aranda’s phone, where he stated Lopez and Lopez would lose ahead of the duo starting their match.

Feliciano Lopez, scheduled to partner Andy Murray in the Brit’s comeback tournament this week at The Queen’s Club, held a press conference Wednesday to address the report, an accusation he denied having any involvement with.

“Following reports in media that mentioned my name and my partner, Marc Lopez, I feel it is still important to come to you and absolutely deny any link with events described in relation to the allegations of match fixing. Unfortunately, all tennis players are public figures and exposed to having our good name used beyond our control. For that reason, I will do everything within my power to defend myself against any such false accusations,” stated Lopez.

“Marc and I had immediately contacted the TIU to fully cooperate, and they confirmed that there had been no investigation about that match at Wimbledon 2017. We have full faith in the TIU and the role they play protecting our sport.”

Two years ago at the All England Club, Lopez had retired in the fourth set of his first-round singles match with Adrian Mannarino prior to taking the doubles court the next day with his namesake of no relation. The 2016 French Open champions won the first set, before Reid and Smith took the next three to advance.

“I was playing against Mannarino and I injured my foot, and I had to retire in that match. And then we tried to play doubles. We tried to do our best, and we ended up losing the match. That's all,” stated Lopez.

Lopez, the 2017 singles winner at The Queen’s Club, met with reporters on Wednesday after rallying past Marton Fucsovics, 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-4, in just over two hours. Needing a wild card to gain entry this year, Lopez began this week ranked No. 113.

“I have always believed in the values of fair play. It has been the case during my long career and I stand for the integrity of the game, which is so important,” said Lopez. “I am now focused on giving my best, as always, and playing with 100 percent focus at Queen's.”

On Thursday, the 37-year-old will make his highly-anticipated team debut with Murray, who is slated to return for his first event since undergoing a resurfacing surgery on his right hip in January. Lopez and Murray will face top seeds Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah.