Panna Udvardy says the Hungarian Tennis Federation (HTA) failed to support her when she was threatened and was informed at the last minute she wasn’t selected for the country’s Billie Jean King Cup tie.
The 28-year-old is currently ranked 83rd in the world and is one of two women from her country ranked in the world’s top 100. Udvardy reached the final of a WTA 250 event in Colombia earlier this year, her most prestigious final to date. She also reached the semi-finals of the Rabat Open in May but lost in the first round at all four Grand Slam events this season.
In a series of statements posted on her Instagram story, she accused the HTA of poor communication and of failing to support her when she needed it. Udvardy said in 2022 she travelled from South America to Romania for a BJK tie but had to make her own way to the venue after the team decided not to wait for her.
“On the day of the match, one of the players was unable to compete, so I had to step onto the court just 30 minutes before the match started, after already completing two hours of practice,” she said.
“Despite the circumstances, I accepted the responsibility and fought through the entire match for the team because playing for Hungary has always mattered to me.”
A more serious allegation from the tennis star was that her federation failed to keep in touch with her when she was injured and also failed to respond to her emails when she notified them of being threatened at an event in Turkey. At a WTA 125 tournament in Antalya, Udvardy was sent photos of her family along with a photo of a gun warning her family would be harmed if she didn’t lose her match. She reported the threat to authorities, with police officers attending her quarter-final match and others guarding her parents’ and grandmother’s homes.
“Throughout my injuries, I never received a phone call asking how I was doing or how my recovery was progressing,” she said.
“When I was threatened in Antalya, my own sports federation did not even respond to my emails. During these difficult moments, I was not expecting special treatment. I simply wanted to feel that my federation stood behind me, cared about how I was doing, and valued me not only as a player but also as a person. Unfortunately, I did not experience that support or care.”
The latest allegation was that those in charge of Hungary’s Billie Jean King Cup told Udvardy she hadn’t been selected for their tie with America five minutes before a public announcement, and they communicated it via email. She says this late notice prevented her from entering other events because she missed the deadline.
“Because of the Delray Beach tie, I had also arranged my tournament schedule to ensure I would be fresh and in the best possible condition to be available for the team,” she states.
“However, because the decision was communicated so late, I had already missed all tournament entry deadlines. I now have no opportunity to enter another tournament, meaning my season will effectively end on November 7.
“This is particularly disappointing because I tried to organise my own schedule around the team so that I could be there to help Hungary. I believe that a player who has represented Hungary on numerous Occasions deserved at least an honest conversation.”
Udvardy says she respects the captain’s right to make their team picks but argues ‘relationship between a national team and its players should be built on mutual respect, trust, and commitment.’ She has played in five BJK Cup ties since 2022, winning four of the six matches.
The HTA is yet to comment on Udvardy’s allegations.
