The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) and the International Tennis Federation (ITF) have published a new report highlighting the alarming scale of online abuse faced by professional tennis players.
The report draws on data from the Threat Matrix service by Signify Group, which has been working since January 2024 to protect players and their families from online harassment. The AI-powered tool monitors major social media platforms to detect abusive and threatening content, Idman.biz reports.
Throughout 2024, Threat Matrix analyzed approximately 1.6 million messages and comments directed at some 8,300 players participating in WTA, ITF World Tennis Tour, and Grand Slam events. The findings revealed that nearly 8,000 of these comments, originating from 4,200 accounts, were categorized as abusive or threatening.
Fifteen of the most severe cases were reported to law enforcement for further investigation.
In total, 458 players were subjected to online abuse over the course of the year. Notably, 26% of all offensive comments were directed at just five athletes. Additionally, players themselves filed 56 formal complaints about threats received in 2024.
A staggering 77% of the abusive messages were traced back to individuals involved in sports betting, underscoring a troubling connection between gambling and online hostility in the sport.
The report serves as a wake-up call for stakeholders in tennis and social media to step up protective measures for athletes at all levels.
Idman.biz
