Suspicious betting patterns detected in ATP match

As the NBA grapples with a betting scandal, tennis must confront a potential gambling scam of its own.

Officials on Friday were investigating suspicious betting patterns on a match involving top-seeded Nikolay Davydenko, who retired because of an injury against a low-ranked opponent at an ATP tournament at Sopot, Poland.

In an unprecedented move, British online gambling company Betfair voided all bets Friday placed on Thursday’s second-round match at the Prokom Open between defending champion and fourth-ranked Davydenko and No. 87-ranked Martin Vassallo Arguello.

Betfair said it received about $7 million in bets on the match -- 10 times the usual amount -- and most of the money was on Arguello to win.

The tennis probe comes in the wake of the scandal involving former NBA referee Tim Donaghy. He is the target of an FBI investigation for allegedly betting on games, including some he officiated, during the last two seasons. He resigned July 9.

Davydenko won the first set, 6-2, then Arguello won the second, 6-3, and was leading, 2-1, in the third when Davydenko retired. He said he aggravated a left foot injury in the second set. He received medical attention from a tournament trainer before deciding to quit.

“I don’t think that he [Davydenko] has something to do with this,” Arguello said Friday. “I was playing against him, but he was playing also with an injury, and that’s all that I know about the match, and that’s also what I felt in the match. I felt nothing else.”

Betfair, which has had an agreement with the ATP since 2003 to share information on any irregular betting activity, said it was concerned with the volume of wagers coming in on Arguello from the start.

“We think the market quite clearly wasn’t fair,” Betfair managing director Mark Davies said.

“The prices seemed very odd. As a result, in the interest of fairness and integrity and in consultation with the ATP, we have decided to void the market and return all stakes to [bettors].”

It’s the first time the company has taken such a step in any sport. Davies said Betfair would turn over its betting records for the ATP to investigate.

John Isner, a 6-foot-9 American playing in only his second ATP Tour event, upset second-seeded Tommy Haas, 6-4, 6-7 (6), 7-6 (5), to reach the semifinals of the Legg Mason Classic at Washington.

Isner had 30 aces. It was his fourth consecutive win in a third-set tiebreaker. He will next play ninth-seeded Gael Monfils, who beat third-seeded Marat Safin, 6-3, 7-5.

In the other semifinal match, top-seeded Andy Roddick will play seventh-seeded Ivo Karlovic. Roddick advanced by beating fifth-seeded Hyung-Taik Lee, 7-6 (6), 6-2, and Karlovic defeated Paul Capdeville, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5).

Second-seeded Tommy Robredo rallied to defeat Stefan Koubek, 5-7, 6-4, 6-1, and advance to the semifinals of the Prokom Open. He will next play Gilles Simon, who beat Igor Andreev, 6-4, 7-5.

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AUTO RACING

Earnhardt finally ends his pole drought

Dale Earnhardt Jr. ended a stretch of nearly five years without qualifying first thanks in part to a well-timed rain shower.

Earnhardt won his first pole since Sept. 2002 with a lap of 169.975 mph, giving him the top spot for Sunday’s NASCAR Nextel Cup Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway.

His fast lap after a 45-minute rain delay pushed Kurt Busch, who had a lap of 169.863, into second. Kyle Busch was third at 169.782.

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HORSE RACING

Dancing Edie heads field at Del Mar

Front-running Dancing Edie will be out to defend her title in the Grade I $400,000 John C. Mabee Handicap today at Del Mar.

“She’ll be setting the pace,” said trainer Craig Dollase, whose father Wally Dollase, has shipped Take The Ribbon from Kentucky to compete against Dancing Edie in the 1 1/8 -mile race for fillies and mares 3 years old and up on the turf course.

Dancing Edie, who held on to nose out Moscow Burning in last year’s Mabee ‘Cap, will again be ridden by Corey Nakatani. The six-horse field also includes stakes winners Price Tag and Precious Kitten. Price Tag will carry top weight of 121 pounds.

Larry Stewart

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Pro Basketball

Timberwolves finalize buyout of Hudson

The Minnesota Timberwolves finalized their buyout of Troy Hudson’s contract. The Timberwolves requested waivers on the point guard, a 10-year veteran whose career has been hampered by ankle injuries.

The Golden State Warriors signed 7-2 center Kosta Perovic and veteran forward Austin Croshere. Perovic was the 38th overall pick in the 2006 draft.

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HOCKEY

No decision yet on Cammalleri’s hearing

The results of Kings center Mike Cammalleri’s salary arbitration hearing in Toronto won’t be known until today. Cammalleri scored 34 goals last season when he made $1.7 million.