Tennis: “She sent a picture with a gun” – participant is threatened at event | EUROtoday

The Hungarian tennis participant Panna Udvardy was perfidiously blackmailed by an unknown particular person. “The person threatened to harm my family if I didn’t lose my game today,” the 27-year-old wrote on Instagram.

The particular person claimed to know “where my family lives, what cars they drive and their phone numbers. She even sent photos of my family members and a picture of a gun.”

Udvardy acquired the messages on her private cellphone earlier than her quarterfinal match on the WTA Challenger event in Antalya, Turkey, towards Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina, which she finally misplaced 6-7, 5-7. “It was really scary to receive something like that,” Udvardy wrote.

Personal knowledge was in all probability accessed from the WTA database

After the threats, the ninety fifth on this planet rankings acquired police safety in Türkiye. “The consulate reacted very quickly and sent three police officers to my game, for which I am very grateful,” emphasised Udvardy: “The police also went to my parents and grandmother’s home, and after the game I officially filed a police report here in Turkey.”

Apparently this isn’t an remoted case. “I have been informed that similar threats have recently been made to other players and that it is suspected that personal information has been accessed from the WTA database,” Udvardy wrote. This is presently being investigated. She referred to as on the WTA to completely examine the incidents and defend the gamers.

“I want to make one thing very clear: This is not normal,” emphasised Udvardy: “It is also unacceptable for athletes and public figures to receive threats against our families, especially not via our private telephone numbers and together with disturbing images.” Such assaults shouldn’t be normalized. “No player should have to experience something like that,” she emphasised.