Renata Zarazúa receives death threats over sports betting

Mexican tennis player Renata Zarazúa has reported receiving death threats against herself and her family via social media. The threats appear to be linked to a gambler's frustration regarding a specific play during her match at the WTA 125 tournament in Suzhou, China.

Zarazúa shared the intimidating messages on her Instagram stories after defeating Katarina Zavatska to reach the semifinals. The messages included graphic threats of physical violence, with one individual stating, “Here a lot of money is played and you cannot give away, here whoever gives away pays or dies.” Another message threatened to cause permanent injury to the athlete to prevent her from playing again.

While the identity of the individual remains unconfirmed, the incident highlights the rising security risks professional athletes face due to sports betting volatility. Zarazúa was subsequently eliminated in the semifinals by Slovakia's Rebecca Sramková.