Juan Manuel Cerúndolo, the Argentinian tennis player ranked 80th in the world, spoke out about the serious threats that players are confronting due to gambling, following incidents involving his colleagues Nikolas Sánchez Izquierdo and Román Burruchaga. Despite his recent success at the Argentina Open, he highlighted the unfortunate normalization of such intimidation in their daily lives. Cerúndolo criticized the ATP and sponsors for their lack of transparency and support regarding these issues, stating that players feel vulnerable and unprotected against such threats.

The vulnerability of tennis players has come to the forefront after the recent incidents where threats were issued to players, creating a climate of fear within competitive sports. Cerúndolo recounted how players were kept in the dark regarding the severity of the threats, reference being made to the confidentiality around an incident at the Challenger in Rosario. This lack of information contributed to a growing sense of unease among players, who were left wondering about the safety and implications of such menaces on their professional careers.

Cerúndolo’s comments raise significant concerns about player safety and the responsibilities of governing bodies and sponsors in addressing the dangers posed by gambling. His call for more accountability from the ATP points to a larger issue in sports where the influence of betting can lead to dire consequences for athletes. The normalization of threats in tennis underscores an urgent need for reform and better protective measures for players amidst the increasing intertwining of gambling and professional sports.