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Tennis player Boulter recently opened up about the severe online abuse she has been subjected to. Following a tense tiebreak at the French Open, Boulter began receiving death threats, despite ultimately winning the match. The messages she received contained hateful and disturbing content, prompting a mix of despair, resignation, and fear from the British athlete.
In a candid interview with BBC Sport, Boulter shed light on the alarming volume and nature of abuse directed at players, including revealing screenshots of her private inbox. She expressed concerns about the normalization of such abusive behavior and its potential impact on younger players. The malicious messages she received during her matches highlighted the vulnerability that athletes face, unsure of whether these threats pose a real risk or are merely empty words.
A significant portion of the abuse aimed at players is believed to originate from individuals who have wagered on their matches. Boulter, ranked 39th in the world, emphasized the emotional toll that threats and explicit messages can take, especially in the aftermath of a match. Exclusive statistics disclosed by sports organizations and data science firm Signify underscore the prevalence of abusive, threatening messages directed at tennis players through social media platforms, prompting calls for action to address the issue.
Boulter also touched on the distressing trend of receiving explicit images and how she has occasionally engaged with abusers in an attempt to make them reflect on their hurtful words. As she prepares for Wimbledon and anticipates a surge in abusive messages, Boulter highlighted the need for increased protection for athletes from online abuse. The tennis community has rallied behind players like Boulter, Caroline Garcia, Iga Swiatek, and others who have spoken out against the disturbing online abuse they have endured, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding players’ mental and emotional well-being
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