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Tennis Stars Receive Gun Threats to Lose Matches
7 Mar
Summary
- Two female tennis players received gun photos and threats.
- Perpetrators threatened players' families and demanded losses.
- WTA and police increased security for threatened players.
Two women's tennis players, Panna Udvardy and Lucrezia Stefanini, recently experienced severe threats. The players received unsettling messages on their personal phones, which included images of firearms and explicit demands to intentionally lose upcoming matches. These threats were accompanied by specific warnings that their family members would be harmed if they did not comply.
Udvardy detailed how the messages threatened her family's safety, naming relatives and mentioning their residences and vehicles. Stefanini reported a similar experience, with threats targeting her parents and birthplace, alongside a picture of a gun. Both athletes reported these incidents to the Women's Tennis Association (WTA).
In response to the threats, both Udvardy and Stefanini were provided with enhanced security. Police also visited the families of the threatened players. The WTA players emphasized the unacceptable nature of such abuse in sports, highlighting the emotional distress caused by threats against their families.
