• ATP Tour

Shanghai on alert after Federer death threat

ESPN staff
October 5, 2012
Roger Federer has been the subject of a death threat © PA Photos
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Organisers of the Shanghai Masters have been forced to step up security after world No. 1 Roger Federer was the subject of an online death threat.

The threat, posted last month on a Federer fan site, vowed to assassinate the 17-time grand slam champion when he appears at the Masters event.

"On October 6, I plan to assassinate Federer for the purpose of tennis extermination," the user 'Blue Cat Polytheism Founder 07' said, having also posted a gruesome image of a decapitated Federer.

"We hope that it was an oral threat only, and the fan won't take substantive action," tournament director Yang Yibin told the Shanghai Youth Daily. "However, we have to take it seriously.

"We have contacted the local police and we will upgrade the level of security for Roger. Meanwhile, we will also protect other players' security."

Federer, who will bid to defend his No. 1 ranking from Novak Djokovic next week, has travelled to Shanghai with his wife and twin daughters.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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