Online abuse is unfortunately nothing new in the sports world. Many football players are victims, but tennis players also suffer from the many (racist) hate messages from internet rolls. In the past, among others, Caroline Garcia, Iga Swiatek, Taylor Townsend, Sloane Stephens or Jessica Pegula complained about the nuisance they experienced through different platforms.
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Now the 28-year-old Boulter, the number two of the British women’s tennis, is telling her story BBC Sport. Moreover, she also shares some screenshots of the most disgusting messages she has already received so far. By “I hope you get cancer” roughly “Walk to hell, I have lost the money that my mother sent me”. Just to indicate how poignant it happens. “I don’t think I would ever say something like that to my worst enemy,” Boulter shakes her head BBC Sport. “It’s just terrible, terrible to say to anyone.”
Gambling at competitions
Boulter is convinced that a large part of the insults she receives comes from people who have bet on her competitions, since she receives such messages both after victories and after defeats.
“I receive quite a lot of people who gambles in tennis competitions. I don’t like to get such messages, but it is something that I try to ignore as much as possible. I am not trying to worry too much, but I am thinking of the emerging young players. They will undoubtedly also get such messages and then has a negative impact on them.”
Death threats
“In the started of my career I took them quite personally,” Boulter continues. “From messages about your appearance to your performance. Or even death threats. Such things is not something that you want to read after an emotional defeat. Although you often get them after a victory. It depends on who has bet the person. Especially during Wimbledon that the death threats assume astronomical proportions.
“I think it just shows how vulnerable we are as athletes,” says Boulter. “You really don’t know if that person is in the stadium. You also don’t know if they are in the area or whether they know where you live, for example.”
Moderation on social media channels
The umbrella tennis unions WTA and ITF are aware of the problem that is getting up and since January last year have joined forces with the Signify data agency to map the nuisance and then fight. For example, extra moderation on the social media platforms will be looked at and the gambling industry is entered into dialogue. An adapted law enforcement is also one of the agenda items.
“Protecting everyone within tennis against online abuse is a top priority,” it sounds, among other things, in a joint statement. “All the authorities involved are responsible for making the online space safer and more positive.”