British tennis star Katie Boulter has bravely opened up about the alarming rise in online abuse targeting players, revealing that she and her family have been subjected to death threats and explicit messages. The 28-year-old, ranked No. 39 in the Womens Tennis Association (WTA) and the British No. 2, shared her experiences with BBC Sport, highlighting the dark side of tennis betting and the toxic environment players often face on social media.
Boulters ordeal began during the French Open on May 29, 2025, when she faced Frances Carole Monnet in the first round. Despite dropping the first-set tiebreak 67 (4), she rallied to win the match 61, 61. However, the loss of that initial tiebreak triggered a wave of vitriolic abuse from online gamblers who had placed bets on the match. Among the messages Boulter received were chilling threats such as Hope you get cancer, and more disturbing ones like references to damaging her grandmothers grave if shes not dead by tomorrow, along with suggestions to buy candles and a coffin for your entire family. Another message read, Go to hell. I lost money my mother sent me. Boulter shared screenshots of these messages with the BBC, underscoring the severity of the abuse.
Reflecting on the impact of such messages, Boulter said, I just wonder who the person is that has sent that. I dont think its something that I would ever say to my worst enemy. Its just an awful, awful thing to say to anyone. Its horrible. She also expressed concern about the vulnerability players face, noting, You really dont know if this person is on site. You really dont know if theyre nearby or if they know where you live or anything like that.
This toxic abuse is not isolated to Boulter. The issue has become widespread within the tennis community, with other players like Gael Monfils and Caroline Garcia publicly discussing their experiences with online harassment. Monfils, for example, responded to abusive bettors on social media after a loss in Stuttgart by sarcastically questioning the logic of betting on him despite poor form. Garcia, a former world No. 30, has also highlighted the exacerbating role that bookmakers and tournament relationships play in fueling this abuse.
Boulter revealed that the abuse often comes regardless of whether she wins or loses, emphasizing that it has become the norm for players. Early in her career, she admitted to taking comments about her appearance personally, but now she sees the volume and severity of abuse increasing. I think it increases in number and it also increases in the level of things that people say. I dont think theres anything off the cards now, she told BBC Sport.
In a bid to combat this growing problem, Boulter has even reached out to some online trolls, sending them messages encouraging self-reflection. Sometimes the replies I actually get from that is them saying: Oh no, Im a huge fan. Im so sorry. I didnt want to send you that stuff, but it was emotional, I didnt mean to. You know, I still support you. I think youre amazing. They dont realise sometimes what theyve actually said to these people, she explained.
The scale of the issue has been quantified in a recent report released on June 17, 2025, by the WTA and the International Tennis Federation (ITF). The report is based on data from the Threat Matrix service, a program launched in January 2024 that uses artificial intelligence and human analysts to monitor social media platforms for abusive, violent, or threatening content directed at players. The system operates in over 40 languages and covers all major social networks.
According to the report, 1.6 million posts and comments were analyzed throughout 2024, with around 8,000 identified as abusive, violent, or threatening, coming from approximately 4,200 accounts. These messages targeted 458 players, with five players receiving 26% of the total abuse. The report also found that 97 prolific accounts were responsible for 23% of all detected abuse. Alarmingly, 40% of the abusive messages were linked to angry gamblers frustrated by lost bets, seeking to inflict emotional distress on players.
Fifteen accounts were escalated to law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and national authorities, and individuals responsible for the abuse have been banned from accessing tennis venues. The WTA and ITF spokesperson emphasized the importance of protecting players and called for a constructive dialogue with the gambling industry to address the root causes of this toxic behavior. Everyone betting operators, social media platforms, governing bodies, players and law enforcers has a responsibility to make the online space a safer and more positive one, they said.
Boulter is preparing herself for what she expects to be an astronomical increase in abuse as Wimbledon, her home Grand Slam, approaches. The grass-court tournament begins on June 30, 2025, and she anticipates the volume of hateful messages will ramp up, a pattern observed at major tennis events. She also noted that she receives abuse related to her fiancé, Australian player Alex de Minaur, currently ranked No. 12 in the mens ATP rankings.
Sexually explicit messages are another disturbing facet of the abuse, though platforms like Instagram generally filter these into hidden message requests. Boulter expressed concern about younger players and fans being exposed to such content, stating, Youngsters really shouldnt be seeing things like that or being sent things like that.
Other prominent players have also spoken out about the issue. US star Jessica Pegula criticized insane and delusional bettors following her French Open defeat, while Iga Swiatek and Caroline Garcia have brought attention to the mental toll abuse takes on athletes. Racist abuse remains a persistent problem, with players like Sloane Stephens and Jay Clarke sharing their experiences of receiving hateful messages online.
The Threat Matrix service continues to evolve, with plans to enable real-time hiding or removal of abusive messages to shield players more effectively. Meanwhile, the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has stated that its members do not tolerate social media abuse and called on social media companies to act swiftly to remove offensive content and collaborate on safer gambling initiatives. The BGC highlighted that the vast majority of the 22.5 million people who bet monthly in Britain do so responsibly.
Katie Boulters candid revelations shed light on the darker side of professional tennis, where the pressures of competition are compounded by malicious online behavior. As the tennis community rallies to combat abuse and protect its players, the spotlight turns to the gambling industry and social media platforms to play their part in fostering a safer environment for athletes and fans alike.
