Professional women’s tennis players are increasingly facing significant online harassment, much of it linked to disgruntled sports bettors, according to recent reports and player testimonies. The abuse ranges from negative comments and threats to more severe cases involving personal and violent intimidation, prompting action from tennis governing bodies and calls for broader industry cooperation.

Players competing on the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) tour describe social media as a double-edged sword. It offers them control over their public image and direct engagement with fans, but also exposes them to frequent hostile messages. Leylah Fernandez, ranked No. 34 globally, highlighted how platforms enable users to send anything from supportive notes to threatening statements, often with little accountability. Jessica Pegula, the No. 3 player, said abusive comments often spike during and after matches, leading her to disable comments temporarily. She noted the abuse appears more targeted toward women within and beyond tennis.

Other top players have also spoken out about the prevalence of abuse across various social platforms. Coco Gauff, No. 4 in the world, acknowledged predominantly positive interactions on TikTok and Instagram but reported pervasive negativity on X, formerly known as Twitter. Gauff shared her strategy of responding to toxic comments with simple emojis to reclaim control. British player Katie Boulter and German player Eva Lys have both publicly shared samples of hateful messages, which can include deeply personal and threatening content. These run the gamut from insults and death wishes to demands that players underperform, often linked to gambling losses.

The problem extends beyond anonymous online hostility. In 2025, British player Emma Raducanu faced a security incident at the Dubai Tennis Championships involving a man exhibiting concerning behavior. Similarly, Iga Swiatek was granted additional security following a verbal attack by a social media harasser at the Miami Open. Earlier this year, Italian player Lucrezia Stefanini and Hungarian player Panna Udvardy received explicit threats involving photos of firearms and personal details aimed at coercing match outcomes. Both reported these threats to authorities, with law enforcement intervention and WTA-provided security support.

In response to these challenges, the WTA and World Tennis have implemented technological measures to monitor and mitigate abuse. Since January 2024, an artificial intelligence-powered system called Threat Matrix, provided by the Signify Group, has reviewed millions of posts across multiple social media platforms in several languages. In 2025 alone, over 1.2 million posts were analyzed, identifying more than 12,000 abusive messages, nearly 3,800 classified as serious, including violent, sexual, racist, and targeted threats. Approximately 66 percent of serious abuses were removed, and nearly 40 accounts were escalated to law enforcement. Notably, a small group of prolific offenders account for a disproportionate share of high-concern abuse.

The WTA’s 2025 data indicates that angry gamblers were responsible for 42 percent of all verified abuse and 59 percent of serious abuse, underscoring the gambling community’s significant role. The organization has called for collective efforts involving social media companies, law enforcement, tennis authorities, and the gambling industry to more effectively combat the abuse.

While players employ various coping strategies—such as blocking users and limiting comment visibility—the magnitude and intensity of online hostility remain a pressing concern for the sport. The WTA and other bodies continue to advocate for stronger protections and a comprehensive approach to safeguarding athletes’ well-being both online and offline.