Hungarian tennis player Panna Udvardy has revealed that she received alarming threats via WhatsApp, including a disturbing image of a gun, which warned that her family would be harmed unless she lost her match. Ranked 95th in the world, the 27-year-old disclosed that the anonymous messages began on Thursday night, featuring pictures of her family members and descriptions of their personal information, such as their residences, vehicles, and phone numbers.
In response to the threats, the Hungarian consulate in Turkey arranged for three police officers to provide security during her quarter-final match at the WTA 125 tournament in Antalya. Additionally, police protection was extended to her parents’ and grandmother’s homes. Despite the unsettling circumstances, Udvardy, who was seeded second in the tournament, faced off against Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina, ultimately losing in a closely contested match with scores of 7-6 (7-3) and 7-5.
In a post on Instagram, Udvardy asserted that similar threats have reportedly been aimed at other players as well. This incident follows recent reports involving Italian tennis player Lucrezia Stefanini, who also received threats prior to a qualifying match for Indian Wells.
The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) is currently investigating the matter and is aware that multiple players have encountered similar issues, raising concerns about the safety and protection of athletes in the sport. As investigations continue, this situation highlights the urgent need for improved security measures and support for players facing such threats.