Andy Murray is due to play doubles with Feliciano Lopez (Picture: Getty)

Andy Murray’s return to tennis took a curious twist as his doubles partner Feliciano Lopez faces claims in the Spanish media regarding an alleged match-fixing scandal at Wimbledon.

The former world No. 1 will team up with the veteran Spaniard on Wednesday afternoon at Queen’s, in what is his first competitive match since undergoing a hip resurfacing operation at the end of January.

But while it’s set to be a jubilant return for Britain’s tennis king, his partner enters the contest facing reports about being caught up in ‘Operation Oikos’ – a Spanish police operation that has been targeting match fixing in football.



Reports in Spain allege former footballer Carlos Aranda – who is accused of attempting to rig football matches along with former Real Madrid player Raul Bravo – provided a tip off to one of his contacts that Feliciano Lopez and Marc Lopez would lose a first-round doubles match at Wimbledon in 2017 against Aussie pairing Matt Reid and John-Patrick Smith, with Aranda demanding 50% of the cut if the result came in.


Lopez is due to compete alongside Murray (Picture: Getty Images)

Lopez/Lopez went a set up but then went on to lose 6-3 6-7 (2-7) 2-6 4-6. It is, however, worth noting Feliciano Lopez was forced to pull out of his first-round singles match against Adrian Mannarino a day earlier, which could have contributed to their downfall. Lopez was one of seven men to retire in the first round at Wimbledon that year.

Marc Lopez strongly denied the allegations to AS, saying: ‘We have nothing to do, they have no right to dirty our names like that.’

No comment from Feliciano Lopez was made on Tuesday but sources close to him strongly deny any wrongdoing and it is understood that the matter is in now in the hands of his legal representatives. Murray’s camp are also aware of the allegations.

The Tennis Integrity Unit would not confirm or deny if they are in the process of investigating the match.

A statement read: ‘The TIU is aware of the allegations reported but in keeping with its policy of operational confidentiality, will not be making any comment on the matter.’