The dark underbelly of professional tennis is being exposed, revealing a disturbing trend of online abuse directed at players, often fueled by angry gamblers. This abuse ranges from vile personal attacks and death threats to cancer wishes, creating a toxic environment that is taking a toll on the mental health of athletes.
Recently, British No. 2 Katie Boulter shared her experiences with the BBC, highlighting the "disgusting" abuse she and her family have received. Boulter revealed examples of toxic messages, including one telling her to buy "candles and a coffin for your entire family" with a reference to her "grandmother's grave if she's not dead by tomorrow," another stating she should "go to hell" for costing the poster money from a bet, and a further message wishing she would "hope you get cancer." Boulter believes much of the abuse comes from gamblers who have lost money and while she has learned how to better handle it over the years, incidents can raise genuine concerns for her safety.
The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) and the International Tennis Federation (ITF) have acknowledged the severity of the problem. A recent report by the organizations, using data from Signify Group's Threat Matrix service, found that from January to December 2024, approximately 8,000 abusive, violent, or threatening messages were directed at 458 tennis players via social media. A significant portion of this abuse, around 40%, originated from angry gamblers actively targeting athletes through direct messages.
Judy Murray, coach and mother of tennis champions Andy and Jamie Murray, has also spoken out about the issue. She noted that young female tennis players are particularly vulnerable, receiving death threats from gamblers who have lost money betting on their matches. Murray emphasized the pervasive nature of social media in young players' lives and the detrimental impact of such abuse.
The rise of online sports betting has undoubtedly contributed to this disturbing trend. With tennis being a popular sport for betting, the stakes are high, and some gamblers resort to abusive behavior when they lose. The ease of access to players through social media platforms further exacerbates the problem, allowing disgruntled gamblers to directly target athletes with hateful messages.
The consequences of this abuse are far-reaching. It not only affects the mental well-being of players but also raises concerns about their safety. As Boulter pointed out, it's unsettling not knowing if the person sending threats is nearby or knows where the player lives. The constant barrage of negativity can lead to anxiety, depression, and even self-harm, as has been the case with some players like Nick Kyrgios, who has been open about his mental health struggles, including depression, self-harm, bipolar disorder and alcohol abuse.
The WTA and ITF are taking steps to address this issue. They have called on the gambling industry and social media companies to take responsibility and implement measures to protect players from online abuse. The Threat Matrix service, launched in January of last year, monitors social media platforms for harassment, abuse, and threats, and escalates serious cases to law enforcement. The system works in 39 languages and currently protects nearly 8000 players.
However, more needs to be done. Social media platforms need to strengthen their moderation policies and take swift action against users who engage in abusive behavior. The gambling industry needs to implement measures to identify and prevent problem gamblers from targeting athletes. Education and awareness campaigns are also crucial to promote responsible online behavior and highlight the impact of abuse on athletes' mental health.
Ultimately, creating a safe and supportive environment for tennis players requires a collective effort from governing bodies, social media platforms, the gambling industry, and fans. Only by working together can we eradicate this vile abuse and ensure that athletes can compete without fear of online harassment and threats.
