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Legends say match-fixing in tennis is overrated
Published on Wed, Jul 02, 2008 at 21:10, Updated at Wed, Jul 02, 2008 in Sports » Tennis section
Tags: Tennis, Boris Becker
GOOD SIGN: Boris Becker, Martina Navratilova say it's nice that tennis players want to look good.
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This weekend it is the Wimbledon weekend. Best time would you say, to hear from tennis' biggest icons on what the game is like today? CNN's Dan Riddell caught up with Boris Becker and Martina Navratilova.
Dan Riddle: How much do you enjoy coming back to Wimbledon, place where both of you were so successful?
Martina Navratilova: It's fantastic. It is my favourite place, favourite time of the year. If you say to somebody you are a tennis player, they ask you 'have you played at Wimbledon'?. If you say have you won it then its 'ooh you must be good'.
Dan Riddle: Do you feel like a returning hero when you come back here Boris?
Boris Becker: Well I used to call this place a home because I was very successful at Centre Court and for 12-15 years I had a good run.
Dan Riddle: There are three big stars in the men's game at the moment - Federer, Nadal and Djokovic. Do you think the talent is too concentrated in the men's game.
Boris Becker: Quite frankly speaking, I am little disappointed with the rest. In the women's game it is No. 54 beating No. 1, No.2 player. That wouldn't happen at the moment in men's tennis. You have Nadal winning four straight French Open. You have Federer ruling the tennis world for five years. What about the rest?
Dan Riddle: You can argue about the women's game that its the reverse problem that the talent is too diluted.
Martina Navratilova: Exactly. And now the No. 1 player retired. This season she quit at the height of her powers. I have no idea what happened.
Dan Riddle: Is match-fixing in tennis a problem?
Boris Becker: I think it is overrated.
Martina Navratilova: I think so too. But you have to weed it out. It cannot be allowed. I think the penalties have to be very severe.
Boris Becker: Nobody understands that a top player goes out there losing and nobody would know apart from the two players on the court that there is something fishy. How can you prove it?
Dan Riddle: Seems to me that to play on the Centre Court you need to be a good tennis player and something of a catwalk expert. It is just a fashion parade now, isn't it. It has sure changed from your day.
Martina Navratilova: Yes. It is funny. The guys are doing the fashion thing now. Not just the girls. You got to be kidding. They spend so much time getting ready. But it is nice. If you have got it flaunt it. You have the opportunity. If I had arms like Nadal, but boys who have arms like Nadal will be wearing sleeveless shirts as well.
Boris Becker: See they are entertainers. They not only want to serve good, they want to look good. They are playing with an audience. If they are clapping we are running a little faster, we are jumping higher. So this is all part of it.
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