AN INTERNATIONAL tennis tournament had to be cancelled after players fell victim to ‘virtual’ kidnapping.
The Mexican Tennis Federation were due to stage a Juniors 30 event in Guanajuato in the centre of the country.
A tennis tournament in Mexico was cancelled after ten players and a coach were targetted by virtual kidnappersReuters
However, they were forced to pull the plug on the tournament after the shocking fraud.
According to reports, ten young stars and one coach were scammed out of money in the shocking scheme.
The Secretary of Security and Peace for the state of Guanajuato said that an adult, six girls, and four boys, all members of a tennis team, were found in a hotel in Irapuato.
In this incident, it is understood the victims were ordered to go to the specific location and turn off their mobile phones.
The players and coach caught up in the ordeal were all from the neighbouring state of Queretaro and have all returned to their homes.
The motive behind targeting the tennis stars for the attempted extortion remains unclear.
Virtual kidnapping is where criminals trick victims into believing a family member has been abducted.
They then threaten violence or even death until a ransom fee is paid.
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That is despite no actual abduction taking place as they con their targets.
Some virtual kidnappers operate from inside prisons.
The Junior 30 events are the lowest-ranked tournaments within the ITF’s youth calendar.
The virtual kidnapping comes just weeks after a tennis venue in Mexico was damaged during September’s Hurricane John.
Winds up to 120mph ripped through the Arena GNP Seguros in Acapulco, which hosts the ATP 500 event.
The tennis complex only opened in 2022 but was ravaged by flooding from Hurricane Otis 12 months ago.
GettyAcapulco’s Arena GNP Seguros has twice been hit by hurricanes since opening in 2022[/caption]
AFPThe complex was left underwater last month by Hurricane John[/caption]
Tennis stars following in parents’ footsteps
TALK about pressure…
These rising stars are all making their way in tennis.
But they have got something in common – they’ve got a famous parent who also made their name in the sport.
So who are the players hoping to follow in the footsteps of their tennis mums and dads?
My dad is one of the greatest tennis players ever… but he’s not my idol
My mum won US Open aged 16 then Wimbledon… but you won’t know it from my surname
My Czech dad won Australian Open and my sisters are elite golfers… but I’m playing for different country
My millionaire dad played with Federer… but I’ve reached three Grand Slam finals
My dad earned £1m and got to French Open final… but I’ve already surpassed his career
My record-breaking dad is in tennis Hall of Fame and won Wimbledon… but I’m aiming to emulate his achievements