Hungarian tennis player Panna Udvardy recently received threatening messages on WhatsApp from an unknown number. The messages included photos of a firearm and pictures of her own family members, warning her to lose a match or her family would face consequences.
According to The Sun, the sender claimed to know where her family lives, the cars they drive, and even had their phone numbers. Udvardy, currently ranked world No. 95, shared her experience on Instagram after her quarter-final defeat at the Antalya WTA 125. She immediately contacted the WTA supervisor and sent screenshots of the messages, while her family reached out to the local consulate.
During her match, which she lost to Anhelina Kalinina, three police officers were stationed with Udvardy as a precaution. Police also visited her parents’ home to ensure their safety. The WTA supervisor told her that other players had received similar threats, and a possible leak of personal information from a database is being investigated.
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Match-fixing threats against tennis players are becoming more organised and dangerous
Just days before Udvardy’s situation, Italian player Lucrezia Stefanini reported a similar incident during qualifying for the Indian Wells Open. Stefanini, ranked 138th, also received WhatsApp messages threatening her and her family with a firearm, with the messages even naming her parents and her birthplace. Athletes facing intense pressure before competitions is nothing new, but threats of this nature represent something far more serious.
Stefanini spoke about the incident, saying she “didn’t think it was right to be put under such pressure and unease before a match.” She alerted the WTA, which provided increased security throughout the tournament. Despite the threats, she said she “couldn’t permit these people to intimidate her.”
Angelo Binaghi, president of the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation, called these incidents “intolerable.” He said that “sending images of weapons, knowing personal information, and intimidating athletes marks a disturbing increase in criminal activity that has absolutely nothing to do with sports.”
Binaghi added that “anyone trying to condition a match through fear has entered criminal territory and deserves an immediate legal response.” Italian player Mattia Bellucci was also recently threatened via social media, showing that this problem is not limited to women’s tennis. These cases also raise broader questions about transparency in high-profile legal cases involving public figures.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency regularly investigates match-fixing in the sport. There are plans to use AI to block threatening content, especially after the WTA and International Tennis Federation tracked 8,000 online posts labelled as abusive, violent, or threatening in 2024. However, Binaghi argues that punishing those responsible is not enough, and that a stronger international system is needed to truly protect athletes.
Published: Mar 7, 2026 12:00 pm