Threats Against WTA Player
A women’s tennis player has voiced her concerns about the WTA Tour in response to menacing messages directed to her personal phone. Panna Udvardy, currently ranked No. 95 in the world, is the second player in a week to report such threats, which the WTA claims are not due to a breach of personal data.
Udvardy, 27, received a chilling message from a UK number demanding that she lose an upcoming match, warning of her mother’s potential kidnapping and revealing sensitive information about her family’s whereabouts. This message, which accompanied threatening images, left Udvardy terrified.
“I felt panic at midnight, alone in my hotel,” she relayed in a voice message. “I shared these messages with my parents, the WTA supervisor, and the player relations team.” Although she promptly reported the threats, she mentioned experiencing significant anxiety and a sleepless night.
When Udvardy approached the WTA supervisor, she learned that such messages had been sent to other players as well. The supervisor noted an investigation into a possible leak of players’ personal data, attributing the recent uptick in threats to this. “The WTA seemed to downplay the situation,” Udvardy remarked. “I didn’t see any increased security measures or concern.”
The WTA, in a follow-up email to players regarding Udvardy’s situation, confirmed there wasn’t an official data breach and disclosed that the FBI is involved in investigating the source of these threats. Players were reminded to reach out to the safeguarding team upon receiving any threatening communications on personal devices or social media.
Italian player Lucrezia Stefanini shared similar experiences, receiving threatening messages prior to her match at Indian Wells. She noted that the WTA had prioritized her security during the tournament, contrasting Udvardy’s experience. After losing her match, Udvardy received support from officials and police, who had been alerted by her family reaching out to the Hungarian consulate.
Udvardy highlighted a concerning trend in the tennis community, where players frequently face harassment, particularly from bettors unhappy with match outcomes. She stated, “This should not be normalized,” emphasizing the urgent need for improved safety measures for players facing such threats.
