Tennis Players Face Widespread Abuse from Angry Gamblers in 2024

Ukrainian tennis star Elina Svitolina faced a barrage of online abuse and death threats from angry gamblers after her straight-sets loss to Naomi Osaka in the quarterfinals of the Canadian Open. Svitolina shared screenshots of hateful messages on Instagram, condemning the 'shameful' behavior especially toward women and mothers, while some messages also referenced the ongoing war in Ukraine. This highlights a broader problem in tennis, where nearly half of social media abuse directed at players originates from disgruntled bettors, as noted by a study from tennis governing bodies. French player Caroline Garcia has criticized social media platforms for inadequate measures to prevent such harassment, warning of its emotional toll on players, particularly younger ones. Svitolina's husband, French player Gael Monfils, has also faced similar abuse from gamblers and responded humorously to their frustration. Despite efforts by authorities to block abusive accounts, the issue of online gambling-related harassment remains a significant challenge for professional tennis players.