* Translated by Papago

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"Shocked" 女 tennis star Noreen pushed into "shooting threat" family photo and said, "If you win, you'll die." a frightening coat

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Park Jaeho

*This content was translated by AI.

Panna Woodbardi, who recently received death threats. /Photo = The Sun Source
Panna Woodbardi, who recently received death threats. /Photo = The Sun Source

A series of incidents occurred in which female tennis players were sent death threats and gun photos before the game.

Britain's The Sun said on the 7th (local time) that "Fanna Woodbardi, a Hungarian who is ranked 95th in the world, recently revealed a creepy threat message she received on WhatsApp through her Instagram shortly after losing in the quarterfinals of the World Tennis Association (WTA) 125 in Antalya."

"Someone with an unknown caller number sent me a picture of a gun and threatened to target my family if I didn't lose the game," Woodbardi said, shocking, "They knew my family's residence, the vehicle they were driving, the phone number, and even sent me a picture of my family."

Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, Woodbardi immediately informed the WTA supervisor and his family. In response, three police officers were deployed in Woodbardi's 7-6 and 7-5 loss to his opponent Anhelina Kalinina.

The media said, "Police had to patrol his parents' home as a precaution. The WTA said, "We are investigating the possibility that the personal information of the players was leaked from the database."

Pistol photo message received by Panna Woodbardi. /Photo = The Sun Source
Pistol photo message received by Panna Woodbardi. /Photo = The Sun Source

Woodbardi is not the only target of these crimes. Just a few days ago, Italian player Lucrezia Stefanini, ranked 138th in the world, suffered a similar horrific event during qualifying for the Indian Wells Open, one of the most prestigious tournaments in women's tennis.

"I received a threatening message yesterday, citing the victory of the game," Stefanini said. "He threatened me and my family by sending me a photo of a gun, mentioning my parents' name and my birthplace." Stefanini, who played to the end despite security measures from the tournament's side, lost 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 to Victoria Jimenez Kacheva in the first round of qualifying. "I couldn't let these people scare me," he said, showing a firm attitude.

Tennis figures are furious. Angelo Binagi, president of the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation, called the incident "unbearable" and said, "Sending images of weapons to athletes, identifying personal information and threatening them is a serious crime that has nothing to do with sports. Immediate legal action is needed."

Italy's Mattia Belucci recently also reportedly received similar threats on social media (SNS).

Meanwhile, the International Tennis Health Organization (ITIA), which monitors match manipulation in tennis events, is closely monitoring the situation. The WTA and the International Tennis Federation (ITF) announced that they have tracked 8,000 online posts and comments of abuse, violence, and intimidation against players in 2024, and plan to introduce AI in the future to block such malicious comments in advance.

However, Binagi and other tennis officials are calling for a significant strengthening of the international protection system to ensure the safety of athletes and their families, as well as the punishment of perpetrators.

Panna Woodbardi. /AFPBBNews=News1
Panna Woodbardi. /AFPBBNews=News1

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*This content was translated by AI.

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