Tennis is not corrupt, says Venus

Venus Williams is this week competing in the JB Group Classic

Reigning Wimbledon champion Venus Williams says she does not believe tennis is rife with corruption.

The sport has recently been tainted by rumours of match-fixing, while the ATP, the governing body of men's tennis, has been investigating irregular betting.

When asked whether she had seen any evidence of match-fixing, Williams replied: "I don't think it is a big thing for tennis, to be honest.

"We're OK, I don't see it as a problem. I don't think about it per se."

The 27-year-old is playing in the star-studded JB Group Classic in Hong Kong, in what is her first competitive tournament since October.

Williams, who graduated from design college during her break from the game, crushed China's Peng Shuai, the world number 45, 6-1 6-2 on Thursday to reach the semi-finals of the invitational event.

"I haven't been out there in a long time and had to fight for every point, but I felt all the things I have practised really paid off," said Williams, who now faces Elena Dementieva after the Russian beat top seed Ana Ivanovic.

It's just a bunch of rumours so unless you get a factsheet or facts they will remain rumours Maria Sharapova

Ivanovic, the world number four from Serbia, said she had not encountered any foul play in women's tennis, while two-time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova believes the game is in good health.

"I think it's in the best interests of players and the tour to keep the sport as clean as possible," said Sharapova, who plays Anna Chakvetadze in the other semi-final.

"It's unfortunate that you do hear those things. Whether they're true you're not sure because sometimes it's just a bunch of rumours so unless you get a factsheet or facts they will remain rumours."

The players are in Asia preparing for the Australian Open where officials have set up a police taskforce to ensure that the first Grand Slam of the year remains corruption-free.

On Monday, tennis icon Martina Navratilova backed efforts to rid tennis of corruption but conceded that match-fixing was hard to prove.

Three Italian players - Potito Starace, Daniele Bracciali and Alessio di Mauro - were hit with suspensions last year for betting on matches.