As more players and officials open up about corruption in the sport, the game’s administrators remain silent.
The 1987 Wimbledon champion was responding to a BuzzFeed News and BBC investigation exposing secret files containing evidence of match-fixing and inaction at the highest levels of tennis.
But on Thursday, at a media event at the Australian Open, Cash allowed that "there's some stuff [match-fixing] at lower levels, but that's human nature".
He said that while there was always going to be a temptation to fix matches for lower-ranked players struggling to make ends meet, he believed authorities were well on top of the issue at a competitive level.
"These players are struggling to make a living, and that's the bottom line," he said. "They're really struggling and some people are going to be tempted to do the wrong thing.
"It's a bit of a storm in a teacup, but officials do need to keep on top of this [at lower levels]."
One of those lower-ranked players, Australian Nick Lindahl, will face a Sydney court on Monday, accused of intentionally throwing a match at a 2013 tournament in Toowoomba, Queensland.
The loss was flagged by a betting agency after it detected unusual betting trends against his lower ranked opponent, sparking an investigation by NSW police.
Lindahl, who reached a career-high ranking of 187, allegedly told a friend, Matthew Fox, himself a former player and coach, that he would throw the match. Fox has pleaded guilty and been fined for using corrupt information to bet on the match.
Those involved in ensuring the integrity of the sport agree with Cash's assessment that it's these lower-ranked players who are most at risk of corruption. But this week, a host of past and present players and officials have accused the game's administrators of sitting on their hands when it comes to match-fixing.
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One of the most outspoken players on the ATP tour is men's world No. 2 Andy Murray, who this week blasted tennis officials for the way corruption issues have been handled, saying the game has suffered as a result.
Murray wrote a scathing editorial saying tennis officials needed to be more transparent about the scale of corruption in the game.
"I don't care whether the tennis authorities are seen to be doing enough; I care whether they are doing enough," he wrote. And I don't know if they are because I have no idea how much money is invested in the Tennis Integrity Unit [TIU].
"So much money is gambled in tennis during a year – it's a huge industry. Maybe more could be done prevent corruption but I have no idea how much money tennis spends in comparison to other sports."
Murray also called on officials to work with younger players, who are seen as more vulnerable to match-fixing.
John Newcombe, a seven-time Grand Slam winner, said any player found guilty of fixing matches should be banned for life.
"Anyone who does it, there's no second chances," he said. "You're kicked out for life as far as I'm concerned."
Newcombe added that young players don't necessarily understand the long-term effect that taking part in corruption could have on their careers as well as their lives.
"If you get involved with these people you're in a steel trap – they won't let you out," Newcombe said.
"Once you make a mistake of agreeing to do something, they'll hold it over you for the rest of your life."
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