Sharapova said that womens tennis is "clean"

The Russian Maria Sharapova and the Serb Ana Ivanovic assured Tuesday that female tennis was "clean" , less than two weeks after the start of Australian Open (14-27 January in Melbourne).

Suspicions party rigged plan on tennis for several months. On Monday, the former champion Martina Navratilova declared support the fight against corruption, acknowledging that the party was amaño difficult to prove, but that " is relatively easy to lose a game voluntarily ".

Ivanovic and Sharapova , respectively world number four and five, claimed Hong Kong , where several competing parties exhibit, the female circuit was "clean".

"I think it is important to keep it clean and pure. Is the aim of the competition, I think it should continue," said Ivanovic, 20 years old, a finalist in Roland Garros in 2007 .

"It is in the interest of the players and circuit maintain sport as clean as possible," he added Sharapova , winner of two Grand Slams . "Its a pity to hear such things. Nobody is sure it is true, are rumors and, unless otherwise provide evidence, will remain rumors," he said.

The organizers of the Australian Open have taken steps to prevent corruption and illegal betting matches rigged, especially the ban on the use odenadores portable on the track.