Davydenko hits out at Murray

Nikolay Davydenko has again hit out at Andy Murray over the British number one’s remarks about alleged corruption in tennis.

Murray caused a major stir last week after suggesting all players are aware of match-fixing in the sport, saying they “know it goes on”.

The Scot subsequently insisted his comments had been taken out of context, and claimed he never alleged players had fixed matches or were involved directly in betting on them.

Murray’s initial remarks drew criticism from a number of fellow professionals, including Davydenko, who suggested last week that the British ace must gamble himself if he knew so much about it.

And the Russian once again questioned Murray’s comments, as well as querying the Scot’s motives behind his suggestions.

“I don’t know why he (Murray) is talking about this. A guy talking about this is trying to be more famous than he is on the tour, because if he tells something then he knows,” said Davydenko after withdrawing from the Madrid Masters through injury.

“We need questions from the ATP why he knows this or what he does know.

“That is why from him it is stupid to say something like that, this is something that normally nobody knows.

“I don’t know how Murray’s got this information. For me it’s surprising.

“How does he know everything about gambling? He just says ’I know’, ask him how he knows. For me that’s the interesting thing – why he knows and from who he knows,” he added.

Davydenko is at the centre of an ATP tour investigation into a match two months ago involving himself and Argentinian player Martin Vassallo Arguello where suspicious betting patterns emerged.

The Russian said of the whole episode: “It’s already damaged my reputation, starting in America two months ago. I have already qualified for Shanghai, I’ve had good results, I don’t care now.”

Davydenko, who was the fourth seed at the Madrid Masters, withdrew from the tournament after struggling with an elbow injury in practice.

“After my practice I have retired. I can’t play here and I decided it’s too dangerous for me to play this week, and I am going to try and recover for the next tournament if possible,” he said.

“I can play but the doctor said that if I do play the recovery will take longer and longer. It would be better if I don’t play.

“I fly back to Germany tomorrow and try to recover and take a rest.”

The 26-year-old, who received a bye in the first round, had been due to play Ivo Karlovic in the second round following the Croatian’s 6-2 6-4 victory over Marat Safin.

Davydenko had already secured his spot in the next month’s Masters Cup in Singapore with his victory in Sunday’s final of the Kremlin Cup – his first tournament win of 2007.