British tennis player Katie Boulter has revealed the disturbing reality of online abuse linked to tennis betting, sharing with the BBC that she received death threats targeting her and her family during the French Open. The abuse, she says, has become a troubling norm in the sport, raising concerns about its impact on younger players.
Boulter, currently ranked number 39 in the WTA and the British number two, noted that the abuse extends beyond her own matches to those involving her fiancé, Australian tennis player Alex de Minaur. De Minaur, who faced a surprising defeat at Queens, expressed his hope for action against the abuse players receive from gamblers.
“It’s great for her to step up and shine a light into this, which is something that happens to every single tennis player out there,” said de Minaur. “Every single athlete, I would say.”
Online Abuse: A Growing Concern in Tennis
The messages threatening Boulter’s loved ones were sent during her French Open first-round match against Carole Monnet on May 29. Despite losing the first-set tie-break, Boulter won the match 6-7 (4), 6-1, 6-1. However, the loss of the tiebreaker prompted a barrage of vile messages.
“Hope you get cancer,” said one message, while another threatened to desecrate her “grandmother’s grave if she’s not dead by tomorrow” and ominously mentioned “candles and a coffin for your entire family.”
Boulter shared screenshots of the messages with the BBC, revealing that she also receives explicit pictures. She expressed concern about the toll such widespread abuse takes on younger players, highlighting how it becomes more apparent with each visit to social media.
The Broader Impact on Players
Emma Raducanu, another British tennis player, has also experienced similar abuse. Earlier this season, she was reduced to tears after a man displaying “fixated behavior” towards her was removed from courtside at the Dubai International tournament.
“I think it just kind of shows how vulnerable we are,” Boulter said. “You really don’t know if this person is on site. You really don’t know if they’re nearby or if they know where you live or anything like that.”
Efforts to Combat Online Abuse
In response to the growing issue, the International Tennis Federation (ITF), Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), All England Lawn Tennis Club, and United States Tennis Association launched the Threat Matrix in 2023. This program monitors public-facing social accounts for abusive and threatening content and provides support for players.
Despite these efforts, Boulter noted that the volume of abuse has become overwhelming. “I think that by the end of where I am right now, I think there is just too many to almost do that,” she said. “As a tennis player, I just want to see and protect some of the younger players that come through and try to find a way around this whole situation.”
According to data from Signify, the ITF, and WTA, about 8,000 abusive, violent, or threatening messages were sent publicly to 458 tennis players through their social media accounts in 2024.
Calls for Industry-Wide Action
The ITF and WTA have urged the gambling industry to address abuse linked to betting. “Protecting players and the wider tennis family from vile online threats and abuse is a key priority for us,” a spokesperson said. “From law enforcement escalation and platform intervention to banning abusers from our events, perpetrators must understand that they will face consequences for their actions.”
Jessica Pegula, a member of the WTA Players’ Council, echoed these sentiments, stating that online abuse is “unacceptable.” She called for the gambling industry and social media companies to tackle the problem at its source to protect everyone facing these threats.
Looking Ahead: The Challenge of Wimbledon
As Boulter prepares for Wimbledon, her home grand slam, she anticipates an increase in abuse. The grass-court tournament begins on June 30, and with it, the potential for more hostile interactions from disgruntled gamblers.
The issue of online abuse in tennis, particularly linked to betting, remains a significant challenge. As Boulter and other players continue to speak out, the hope is that industry-wide collaboration can lead to meaningful changes and a safer environment for athletes.
