The events date back to last Wednesday when Niko Sánchez, 26 years old and number 279 in the ATP rankinghad to play his round of 16 match of the Rosario Challenger against the Argentine Valerio Aboian, number 526 in the world.
A priori, Niko started as a favorite against a rival who had entered the main draw as a ‘lucky Loser’ but the betting mafias had other plans… Because Hours before playing his duel, the Catalan tennis player began to receive intimidating messages from an unknown number on his cell phone..
We know everything about you and your family. If it doesn’t go well, I promise you that we will end your family. Dare to disobey and you are finished
In them he was warned of the consequences that both he and his family would suffer if he did not let himself win the match. According to the Rosario network eltresTV, the messages were conclusive: “We know everything about you and your family”, “If it doesn’t go well, I promise you that we will end your family”, “Dare to disobey and you are finished.”
Niko immediately reported what happened to the tournament organization and the ITF (International Tennis Federation), in addition to filing a complaint with the Argentine police.
Finally, the Spanish tennis player had to be escorted into the club facilities to play. their match, which began one hour and 40 minutes late and which Sánchez, visibly affected by everything that happened, lost 7-5, 6-4.
Starting today I will show zero tolerance and report any type of excessive messages that represent a lack of respect or threat to me or my family.
The tennis player himself would write a heartbreaking message hours later on his Instagram account to denounce what had happened: “Hello everyone, I hope you are feeling well or as well as possible. I write this because there are considerable people who are writing to me about what happened yesterday“.
“First, at the moment I am not going to give information about it until I decide how to do it. I would appreciate it if you didn’t write to me anymore, please. I’m coming home and I need to rest. Second, for years I have endured verbal excesses in networks, like other tennis players. Given the seriousness of the latest threats received, starting today I will show zero tolerance and report any type of excessive message that represents a lack of respect or threat to me or my family.”
“Finally, I sincerely appreciate the attention and commitment of the people who have been by my side during these moments, especially to my coach (thank you, Pit, I could never imagine receiving so much in such a short time) and to the tournament that, with its director at the helm, has taken all the necessary measures, together with the police, to guarantee my safety. Thanks a lot”.
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