“They sent a photo of a gun”: Michael Geerts reveals betting threats before Challenger match

Belgian tennis player Michael Geerts has revealed he received serious threats linked to sports betting ahead of a match at the ATP Challenger event in Chersonissos, Crete. The 31-year-old said the intimidation included personal information about his family and a photograph of a firearm, raising concerns about the influence of gambling networks on lower-tier professional tennis tournaments.

Geerts, who has spent much of his career competing on the ATP Challenger circuit, described the messages as escalating quickly from what initially appeared to be a routine contact. The Belgian said the threats began the evening before his scheduled match and intensified on the morning of the contest, putting him under significant psychological pressure before stepping onto the court.

The Challenger Tour represents the second tier of men’s professional tennis, offering ranking points and modest prize money compared with ATP Tour events. For many players ranked outside the top levels of the sport, these tournaments are essential for maintaining rankings and funding their careers, but they can also attract scrutiny due to concerns about gambling activity and match manipulation.

Geerts reported the incident to tournament officials and informed his family immediately. Despite the tension surrounding the situation, the match ultimately went ahead. The Belgian later said the threats affected his mental state throughout the contest, which he eventually lost against Greek player Stefanos Sakellaridis.

Geerts said the situation began with a seemingly harmless text message from a British phone number. Competing at an international tournament, he initially assumed the message might be from a coach or contact related to the event.

However, the tone quickly shifted. After confirming his identity, Geerts received a threatening message instructing him to lose his upcoming match. The warning was accompanied by detailed personal information about his family, making it clear that the sender had access to sensitive data. “If you lose tomorrow, nothing happens. But if you win or retire, you are out of tennis.”

The intimidation escalated further when the sender followed up with additional details about Geerts’ family and a threatening image. “They sent the names of my parents, their address, and my father’s identification number. Everything matched. And then they also sent the photo of a gun. That’s when you know it’s not just words.”

Geerts said the messages also referenced his girlfriend, increasing his concerns about the safety of people close to him. While his parents initially believed the threat might not be genuine, the presence of specific personal information left the player deeply unsettled.

After receiving another threatening message on the morning of the match, Geerts reported the situation to tournament officials. He said he was visibly shaken when speaking with the supervisor, who delayed the match by around thirty minutes while organisers assessed the situation.

Despite the report, the match ultimately proceeded. Geerts attempted to focus on playing normally, but admitted the psychological impact of the threats remained present throughout the contest. “Between points, I kept thinking: ‘Am I safe? Can I win this point?’”

The Belgian started strongly against Sakellaridis but said the mental pressure remained difficult to ignore. The presence of threats linked to gambling activity, he believes, was designed specifically to disrupt his concentration. “I think that’s exactly what those gamblers wanted — to break your head so they can bet big on your opponent. They try to make money through fear.”

Abusive messages linked to gambling losses have become increasingly common for professional tennis players, particularly on social media platforms. Geerts acknowledged that receiving hostile comments after matches has become a routine part of life on tour.

However, he stressed that the situation in Crete felt fundamentally different because it involved direct threats and references to his family. For him, the line between online abuse and genuine intimidation was clearly crossed. “I always receive messages after my matches — the worst diseases and sometimes even death wishes. I’ve become used to it. It’s sad but true. But this? This is different.”

Authorities and tennis officials have been informed about the incident. According to Geerts, the national federation has opened an investigation, and there may have been similar cases reported in recent weeks. “Apparently there have been similar cases in the past weeks. This isn’t a lone lunatic sending threats. It seems to be a network.”

Geerts believes players competing on the Challenger Tour may be particularly vulnerable because of lower prize money and reduced visibility compared with ATP Tour events. While he acknowledges the problem may never disappear entirely, he argues that stronger measures could limit its impact. “At this level they think players are weaker. The prize money is lower, the visibility is lower. They assume we’re more vulnerable. If nobody says anything, they keep winning.”