Morigami denies match-fixing claims - WTA

Japan's Akiko Morigami said she did not receive instructions from a coach to throw a doubles match at the French Open last week, the WTA said yesterday.

Morigami had been widely reported in Japanese media as saying a national team coach had asked her to deliberately lose the match as a defeat would boost partner Aiko Nakamura's chances of qualifying for the Beijing Olympics by freeing her up for a tournament this week.

"I am aware of the media reports, and unfortunately, my comments were misunderstood," said Morigami in a statement.

"I never claimed that the coach asked me to throw the match. Regardless, we tried our best to win the match but we played a tough team and weren't able to beat them."

French Open organisers confirmed yesterday they would continue to investigate the comments while officials in Japan said they would launch a probe of their own.

"At this stage we are not really clear on who said what, but we will investigate the incident," Japan Tennis Association (JTA) managing director Koji Watanabe said.

"If it turns out a national coach did say that then it's a matter for the (JTA's) technical committee. It would be dangerous to make any decision before we have established the facts."

Morigami made her comments after a 6-0 6-1 first-round defeat by Taiwan's Chan Yung-jan and Chuang Chia-jung in Paris last Friday.