MELBOURNE – Former Australian professional tennis player Nick Lindahl has avoided a jail term after pleading guilty to match-fixing charges relating to a game in 2013.

The 27-year-old appeared for sentencing in Sydney’s Burwood court on Monday and faced a maximum of two years jail, but received a $1000 fine, the ABC reported.

Magistrate Michelle Goodwin also placed Lindahl on a one year good behaviour bond.

The charges related to a match Lindahl played against Andrew Corbitt, a junior at that time, in an entry-level tournament in a north-eastern Queensland state.

The court heard that Lindahl’s opponent was approached by a third party before the game but rejected the offer and reported it to a match official.

It was alleged by the police prosecutor that Lindahl advised two other people that he was going to “tank” the match, and by providing that information, they were able to place bets, the ABC said.

A local betting agency suspended wagering on the match when it noted an unusually high number of bets.

Lindahl, whose singles ranking peaked at 187 in 2010, and his opponent were interviewed by the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) before the matter was referred to police.

The court was told Lindahl had not received any personal benefit from the crime, ABC said.

Tennis has been reeling over match-fixing allegations since media reports in January accused the TIU of failing to adequately investigate 16 players repeatedly flagged over suspicions they had thrown matches in the past decade.

The TIU denied the reports but later announced an independent review panel would investigate the allegations and the effectiveness of its existing procedures.

– with Reuters