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Former junior tennis champion Oliver Anderson threw the first set in a match against a low ranking opponent because he believed he would not get caught, a court has heard.
The 19-year-old Queenslander, who is the 2016 Australian Open boys champion, pleaded guilty to charges relating to the ATP Traralgon Challenger tournament in Victoria's east in October.
He was ordered to pay a $500 penalty by the court, and given a two-year good behaviour bond, but no conviction was recorded after his appearance at the Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court in Morwell.
The court heard a friend of Anderson's asked him to drop a set in a match at the tournament.
In a statement to police when he was arrested last year, Anderson said he agreed when he realised he could easily beat his first round draw opponent Harrison Lombe, ranked 1624.
He intentionally lost the first set 4-6, making an effort to win four games so his deliberate loss was less obvious. He won the next two sets 6-0, 6-2.
Suspicion arose when a Crownbet customer attempted to place a $10,000 bet on Lombe winning the first set to Anderson, who was ranked 704.
The betting agency accepted a lower $2,000 bet at odds of 6-1, and the gambler won $12,000.
Anderson lost the next round of the tournament in straight sets to fellow Australian John Patrick Smith.
Police prosecutors said Anderson understood the risk he took when becoming involved with match fixing.
"He believed it was of low risk and that he would not be caught," the prosecution said.
Anderson's lawyer told the court the 19-year-old's playing career is almost certainly over.
"He's made a stupid and foolish decision," he said.
Anderson's lawyer said the young player was feeling pressure to pay money he owed to sponsors.
The court heard he agreed to throw the first set of a match because he needed money to repay a debt.
Tennis Australia's Peter Peterson said the case would now be referred to the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU).
"With the TIU they'll commence the matter internally and then it will get to the stage where it goes to a hearing officer, and the hearing officer will bring down whatever sanction they think is appropriate," Mr Peterson said.
"The scope of the sanction is upwards to a maximum $250,000 fine and a potential lifetime ban."
Earlier this year, The TIU provisionally suspended Anderson from competing in or attending any professional event until it completed its investigation.
Magistrate Charles Tan said he was mindful of the effect match fixing has on sport.
"The impact is far-reaching, not for one particular victim, but everyone who has placed a bet on the sporting contest, or any sporting contest," he said.
Anderson is the latest in a string of Australian tennis players and former players to face court accused of match fixing.
In January, Australian former player Nick Lindahl was banned from professional tennis for seven years and fined $US35,000 ($AUD47,580) for fixing a match in Queensland in 2013.
Lindahl was a favourite to win a match at the Toowoomba Futures in 2013, but approached his opponent Andrew Corbitt, offering to throw the game in exchange for $500.
Last year, he was given a 12-month good behaviour bond and a $1,000 fine, but avoided jail.
Topics: courts-and-trials, law-crime-and-justice, tennis, sport, traralgon-3844, vic
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