"We have identified that there's an awful lot of gambling on tennis," WTA Tour chairman Larry Scott told BBC Sport.

Scott said the players have been approached by people who are willing to pay to fix a match or get information about a match.

"We are taking all reasonable steps to combat the threat and have been focusing a lot of attention on educating players on the importance of coming forward to share information with us," Scott said.

"Several players have come forward to talk to us about the approaches. They have acted very, very responsibly by coming to us."

The WTA told The Associated Press that Scott was not available for further comment.

Scott said any player found to have been involved in corruption should be banned for life.

"Sport is nothing without the integrity and fairness of competition," he told the BBC. "As a leader of sport, that is something I feel committed to. Therefore, I think we must have the right to impose a lifetime ban on any athlete that was associated with corruption."

The issue of possible corruption was raised in men's tennis after an online betting site in August voided all wagers on a match in Poland between Davydenko and 87th-ranked Martin Vassallo Arguello because of irregular betting patterns. Davydenko withdrew from the match in the third set, citing a foot injury.

Since then, several ATP players came forward to say they have been approached with offers to fix matches for money.

The ATP opened an investigation into the Davydenko match, interviewing him and his wife and reviewing telephone records. No findings have been announced.