WTA says protecting players ‘key priority’ in face of abuse, threats
Women tennis players were subjected to more than 12,000 abusive posts and messages on social media in 2025, according to a report in July.
The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) has stated that safeguarding players is a top priority amid reports of abuse and threats directed at female tennis stars online. Former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin and British player Katie Boulter recently became the latest high-profile athletes to endure such harassment. Kenin lost to British teenager Mika Stojsavljevic at the Hong Kong Open and within minutes, her Instagram page started receiving abusive messages, some of which were graphic and offensive.
Boulter, who also faced abuse following her own match, had previously spoken about the scale of online hate directed at herself and other players, including death threats. The WTA believes there is clear evidence linking betting and some serious abuse. The association has been taking steps to address the issue since 2023, including establishing an online monitoring service to identify, investigate and prosecute abusers, as well as flagging abusive comments for removal from websites.
However, social media platforms have been criticized for not doing enough to curb the problem. Eva Lys, a German player, recently questioned what the WTA intends to do about the issue, to which the association responded by providing extra support to Boulter, including on the ground in Chennai where she had recently suffered a first-round exit at the Chennai Open.
In 2025, more than 12,000 abusive posts and messages were reported to have been directed at women tennis players on social media.
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