Tennis Under Siege: Threats, Intimidation, and the Shadow of Betting Mafias
The rising tide of threats and intimidation targeting professional tennis players, initially exposed at the Rosario Challenger, has reached the Argentina Open, prompting leading athletes to speak out about a disturbing trend fueled by online betting. Juan Manuel Cerúndolo, Luciano Darderi, and Sebastián Báez are among those reflecting on what many see as a growing “virus” within the sport.
From Rosario to Buenos Aires: A Pattern of Fear
The issue came to light after Spanish player Nikolás Sánchez Izquierdo received a chilling message just 90 minutes before a match in Rosario. The message, from an unknown number, detailed knowledge of his family’s location – including their street address and apartment number – and explicitly threatened kidnapping and serious consequences if he didn’t lose the match. Overcome with fear, Izquierdo lost the match and immediately withdrew from his qualifying tournament in Buenos Aires, returning home.
The intimidation isn’t limited to lower-tier tournaments. Román Burruchaga, son of Argentine football legend Jorge Burruchaga, also experienced unsettling messages during the Santa Fe tournament, where he lost in the final. “I received several messages. They had information about me and my family,” Burruchaga revealed, adding that he filed a complaint and received police protection for a weekend. Notably, he stated that the ATP did not reach out to offer support. “These are things that I wouldn’t wish on anyone.”
The Evolution of a Threat
Betting-related corruption in tennis isn’t new. Investigations as far back as 2016 uncovered match-fixing schemes involving Russian, Italian, and Sicilian gangs. However, the explosion of online sports betting has dramatically altered the landscape. The ease of access and anonymity offered by social media have created a breeding ground for intimidation, blurring the lines between harmless banter and credible threats.
“Everyone writes to you after the games. It is very difficult to control, you cannot,” explained Italian player Luciano Darderi, who is set to debut at the Argentina Open. Burruchaga echoed this sentiment, stating, “We normalize it.”
WTA and ITF Take Action, ATP Remains on the Sidelines
In response to the escalating abuse, the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), alongside the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and organizers of Wimbledon and the US Open, have partnered with Threat Matrix, a data specialist company. A review of 1.6 million social media posts in 2024 revealed 8,000 abusive comments, with 40% originating from “angry gamblers.” The group has also identified 15 cases of “egregious abuse” and established a support channel for players.
However, the Association of Professional Tennis Players (ATP) has not participated in these efforts, despite reporting that the top 245 men’s players received over 162,000 insulting messages on social media in 2025. This disparity in response has drawn criticism from players like Cerúndolo.
The Personal Toll and Calls for Change
The impact on players is significant. Sebastián Báez, a fourth seed in Buenos Aires, admitted to reducing his Instagram use due to the constant barrage of potentially harmful messages. Stories of extreme abuse are becoming increasingly common. British player Katie Boulter received horrific threats – including wishes for her death and harm to her family – after losing a set at Roland Garros, triggered by bets lost on her match. Similarly, French player Arthur Bouqier was threatened with violence if he lost a match.
Juan Manuel Cerúndolo recently revealed he has been threatened with violence against his mother on social media. “I’m going to kill your mother,” he shared, highlighting the deeply personal nature of the attacks. He also criticized the ATP’s lack of engagement and the complexities surrounding reporting such threats. “You have to report all the messages and you can’t even reply to a friend who asks you ‘hey, who wins for you?’ Then you see their sponsors and there is something that doesn’t add up.”
Daniel Merida, a 21-year-old Spanish player, proposed prohibiting betting on matches involving minors, arguing that organizations are not prioritizing player safety. His calls, however, have largely gone unanswered.
A System Complicated by Sponsorships and Accessibility
The situation is further complicated by the ATP’s endorsement of casino and betting house sponsorships for tournaments since 2018. This has led to a rise in “courtsiders” – individuals who exploit delays in information to profit from live betting – and an increase in professionals accepting bribes, as investigated by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA).
The widespread availability of ATP matches through online casinos, even in countries like Argentina where they are also broadcast on Disney Plus, adds another layer of concern. With approximately 106 million active players worldwide, tennis is facing a crisis that demands urgent attention. Marco Trungelliti revealed he was offered between $5,000 and $10,000 to throw a Challenger match, and “almost ten times more” for an ATP-level event.
A recent report in Argentina found that 40% of 8,000 adolescents surveyed had recently engaged in gambling. Despite the approval of a bill to prevent gambling addiction in November 2024, it currently languishes in the Senate, potentially losing parliamentary status. As one observer noted, “There is no worse blind man than he who does not want to see.”
