TENNIS is a “fertile breeding ground” for corruption and is engulfed in a “tsunami” of betting-related graft at lower levels due to online gambling, according to the newly published Independent Review of Integrity in Tennis.

The probe was set up in February 2016 following allegations that leading players, including grand slam winners, were involved in match-fixing and that evidence had been suppressed.

More than two years later the review panel, in publishing its interim report, claimed tennis faces a “serious integrity problem,” particularly at the lower levels of the sport where players often struggle to break even, and especially on the men’s circuits.

The panel also found “evidence of some issues” at grand slams and Tour events, although it did not uncover evidence of a widespread problem at the highest levels.

The report showed no evidence of top-level players being implicated in corruption.

However, it did claim “tanking” — players seemingly giving up during matches, which has been a feature at some high-profile tournaments — has been too often tolerated by the tennis authorities.

The review panel did not find evidence of a cover-up by either the Tennis Integrity Unit nor governing bodies the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).

However, some of the actions taken by the ITF and ATP were “inappropriate or ineffective.”

Among the report’s recommendations are the restructuring of the professional game and a significant reduction in tournaments deemed “professional” but where players may actually lose money due to the cost of competing, making them easy prey for the corrupt.

The panel also recommended discontinuing the sale of official live scoring data at lower-level tennis to betting companies and banning them from sponsorship deals.