Tennis Pros Warned About Twitter and Online Gambling

What are the chances that the 'talented twits' who invented the popular online social networking facility, Twitter, a couple of years ago envisioned that one day their internet invention would become such a controversial and heated topic within the realms of professional tennis? Pretty slim, we'd say.

Given the high number of gambling scandals that have plagued professional tennis in recent years - involving match fixing and illicit online betting - tennis authorities are understandably eager to root out corruption in the sport, as well as any hint that players may be aiding betting by disclosing sensitive information.

Enter Twitter, where everyone and his brother has a say, no matter how vapid or superfluous. It seems that professional tennis players who are big Twitter fans have been warned by tennis authorities not to disclose information that could be used to sway betting patterns and risk bringing the sport into disrepute.

Tennis authorities are particularly concerned about players that 'Tweet' about upcoming matches and player conditions. In fact, the issue has come to a head in the U.S. Open which is on right now. According to reports, signs have been posted throughout the venue entitled 'Important. Player Notice. Twitter Warning.'

The signs read: 'Sending certain sensitive information concerning your match or other matches and/or players should be avoided. Depending on the information sent out this could be determined as the passing of 'inside information.' The signs were signed by Jeff Rees, who is the head of the Tennis Integrity Unit.

The signs are there to remind players, their family members, coaches and tennis officials that Twitter may not be used on-court during matches and that the posting of information deemed to be sensitive is in violation of the rules. This includes comments about players' health, court conditions and even the weather.

Pros with a big following on Twitter include # 2 in the 2009 WTA Rankings, Serena Williams, and # 5 in the 2009 ATP World Rankings, Andy Roddick. Roddick recently tweeted: 'I think its lame the US Open is trying to regulate our tweeting.. I understand the on-court issue but not sure they can tell us if we can.'