Tennis Ace Receives Spine-Chilling Threat from Bettors During Challenger: “We Have Enough Guns to Silence You”

Bettors targeted both Roman Burruchaga and Nikolas Sanchez Izquierdo during the Rosario Challenger.

Tennis Ace Receives Spine-Chilling Threat from Bettors During Challenger: “We Have Enough Guns to Silence You”

Roman Burruchaga (Image via TennisTemple)

Argentine tennis ace Roman Burruchaga made headlines during the Rosario Challenger, not because of his performance but because of the death threats he received from angry bettors. Burruchaga, on Monday (February 9), played the final of the Rosario Challenger but failed to go past Camilo Ugo Carabelli, losing with a 6-2, 6-3 scoreline.

According to journalist Sebastian Torok, Burruchaga received several messages on his WhatsApp before his semifinal against Chun-Hsin Tseng. The bettors wanted the World No.118 to lose to the Taiwanese player. “You son of a bit*h, today you must lose against the Chinese player,” wrote one bettor. Another warned the tennis ace, “We have enough guns to silence you and your family. Don’t get smart. Execute well, lose without winning a set, and everything will stop there. Otherwise, I promise you won’t leave Rosario.“

The messages also included personal information about his relatives and a photo of a firearm. Another message read, “We have enough iron to give you and your family a golden shit, don’t step out of line, I played fair without winning a single set and everything will stay here if not I promise you won’t leave Rosario“.

But Burruchaga paid no heed to the gamblers and instead won the semifinal with a 6-3, 6-3 scoreline. He filed a report with the police and had security at the hotel and the Jockey Club. Carabelli, who will next be playing the Argentina Open in Buenos Aires and will lock horns with compatriot Francisco Comesana, made his feelings known on the abusive messages.

I never received any threats via WhatsApp as they did. Sometimes we get threatening comments on our Instagram photos. It’s pretty common now. They’re usually fake accounts. But a threat as serious as the one Roman and [Nikolas] Sanchez Izquierdo reported never happened to me.

Camilo Ugo Carabelli told the press

Izquierdo, before his match against Valerio Aboian in the fourth round, received death threats from bettors, and he contacted the ITF, which eventually led to him playing the match behind closed doors. He ended up losing the match 7-5, 6-4.

Roman Burruchaga on the death threats

Roman Burruchaga admitted that although targeting players has become pretty common these days, this time he had to take action because the bettors crossed the limit.

Roman Burruchaga received death threats from bettors
Roman Burruchaga received death threats from bettors (Image via X/Sebastian Torok)

I couldn’t play my best tennis today, but it was a positive week. The year has just begun, and I hope to continue on this path. Unfortunately, these things happen, but this time it was a bit more intense. I hope it doesn’t happen again.

Roman Burruchaga told reporters

The 24-year-old has so far played six Challenger finals, winning three titles. He lifted trophies at the 2025 Brasil Tennis Challenger, 2025 Buenos Aires Challenger, and the 2025 Costa do Sauipe Open.

Upon learning of the incident, the prosecutor notified the Flagrancy Unit, which ordered protection, collection of information provided in the complaint, and an investigation into the phone line from which the messages were sent. In both instances, the players were asked to lose their respective matches, accompanied by threats of various kinds. The Prosecutor’s Office is withholding certain details for the ongoing investigation.

Public Prosecutor’s Office reported (H/T: La Nacion)

He has so far played just one Grand Slam main draw match – in the first round of the 2024 French Open. This year at the Australian Open, he lost in his second qualifying round. He has so far played just one main draw match in the Masters 1000s, at the 2025 Italian Open, losing in the second round.

Also read: Ex-ATP Pro Thinks Carlos Alcaraz ‘Shouldn’t Have Been’ in Australian Open Final