Tennis Player Threatened Before Match as WTA Probes Messages

A disturbing series of threats directed at professional tennis players has raised fresh concerns about athlete safety and the growing problem of abuse linked to sports betting. 

Tennis Star Says Family Threatened Before Quarterfinal in Antalya

Hungarian player Panna Udvardy revealed that she received violent messages on her private phone before competing at a tournament in Turkey.

Udvardy, ranked No. 95 in the world, said the messages arrived late at night from an unfamiliar number with a United Kingdom dialing code while she was preparing for a quarterfinal match against Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina in Antalya. The player said the sender demanded that she intentionally lose the match and warned that her family would be harmed if she refused, as reported by The New York Times.

The threatening messages included personal details about her relatives, photographs of family members, and an image of a handgun. The individual behind the messages also claimed to know where Udvardy’s relatives lived and what vehicles they used, which intensified her fears.

The 27-year-old later explained that receiving the threats while alone in her hotel room caused severe anxiety and prevented her from sleeping. She passed the information to her parents and informed tournament officials, along with representatives from the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA).

Udvardy went ahead with the match but lost in two tight sets. Despite the difficult circumstances, she said she was proud of her performance given the pressure she experienced before stepping on the court.

WTA Probes Threats to Players as Udvardy Calls for Stronger Safety

The player criticized what she felt was a muted reaction from officials after she reported the incident. According to Udvardy, a tournament supervisor mentioned that other competitors had received similar messages. This comment suggested the possibility that personal contact details belonging to players may have been accessed by unknown individuals.

However, the WTA later circulated an email to players stating that there is no confirmed evidence that its databases had been compromised. The organization said an investigation is underway to determine the source of the threats, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Udvardy is not the only player to face this kind of intimidation. Italian professional Lucrezia Stefanini shared a similar experience earlier in the week. She explained that she had also gotten a threatening message with a gun image before a qualifying match at the BNP Paribas Open.

These incidents point to a broader pattern of harassment in professional tennis, often linked to gambling activity. Players often receive abusive messages online from bettors frustrated by match results. While most of those messages show up on social media, the recent cases are concerning because they involved private phone numbers and direct threats against family members.Udvardy stressed that such behavior should not become an accepted part of professional sport. She emphasized that athletes should not have to compete while worrying about the safety of their loved ones and urged authorities to strengthen protections for players on the tour.