Former Australian Open boys tennis champion Oliver Anderson has avoided conviction after pleading guilty to a match-fixing offence.
The 19-year-old admitted on Tuesday morning to throwing the first set of a match at the Traralgon Challenger tournament last year.
When Anderson was charged in January, only days before the Australian Open, it sent shockwaves through the tennis world.
Magistrate Charles Tan heard Anderson was approached a few days before the match by a friend in Queensland, who asked whether he would be willing to drop the first set of his first-round match.
After the draw was completed the day before the match, Anderson agreed.
Crownbet reported suspicious activity to police after a punter tried to bet $10,000 on the match, with Anderson win in three sets against Harrison Lombe, who was ranked 900 places below him.
Crownbet rejected the bet, but allowed a wager of $2000.
Anderson won in three sets, and the punter won$10,000.
Anderson, from Brisbane, appeared in the Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court, supported by his parents and girlfriend.
Barrister Ben Ihle, for Anderson, said his client had signed a contract with an international sponsor that he feared he would have to repay because he had been unable to fulfil his playing obligations due to injury.
The friend who approached him to throw a match had "preyed" on this fear, Ihle said.
It is understood the man who bet on the match has not been charged, but police refused to comment, or even confirm if an investigation was continuing.
The man had attempted to place a multi-bet of $13000 in the same tournament, with the Anderson match the first leg, and another match, which was not fixed, making up the second leg. Crownbet rejected this bet.
Ihle said Anderson faced the real prospect of being sued by his sponsor if he was unable to repay the contract. Combined with the mental pressure of not knowing whether he wanted to continue in the sport, and the physical pressure of playing while recovering from injury, he succumbed to his friend's suggestion, Ihle said.
Once the draw was released, and Anderson knew he could easily beat Lombe, who was ranked 1624 in the world, he texted "yep" to his friend, indicating he agreed to drop the first set.
Anderson won the October 24 match in 26 minutes, 4-6, 6-0, 6-2.
Ihle said Anderson had not been told what he would be paid for the fix, and never received any money.
Anderson was arrested two days after the match and made full admissions to police.
He said he won four games in the first set to make sure it was not obvious to officials or his coach, former Australian tennis star Wayne Arthurs.
Mr Ihle said Anderson hoped to continue his as a coach.
He described Anderson as a warm and humble young man.
"He has never craved or sought the limelight ??? quite the opposite" Mr Ihle said.
"The talent he has had as a tennis player has been as much a burden for him as a gift.
"This is a thoroughly honest individual who has made a very, very, very stupid mistake."
Mr Tan agreed that while the charge of engaging in conduct that corrupts a betting outcome was serious, with a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, Anderson deserved a chance to make good.
He acknowledged Anderson was remorseful, had no criminal record, and was yet to face a Tennis Integrity Unit hearing, which could result in a lengthy ban from the sport.
But he said he wanted to send a strong message that match fixing had a troubling impact on sport.
"It's not just one victim," Mr Tan said.
"It undermines the confidence of the public in sporting contests...and their enjoyment of it."
Anderson agreed to pay $500 to the court fund and was sentenced to a two-year undertaking, which is similar to a good behaviour bond.
