Tennis Abuse: Players Face Online Threats & Racism – Aiava Speaks Out
A wave of online abuse targeting professional tennis players, much of it linked to sports betting, prompted the WTA and ITF to publish a season-wide report detailing the scale of the problem and call for action from the gambling industry. The report, released Tuesday, comes as former Australian player Destanee Aiava publicly detailed the severe abuse she experienced during her career, including death threats and commentary on her physical appearance.
The WTA and ITF report, covering January to December 2024, found that approximately 8,000 abusive, violent, or threatening posts and comments were directed at players through social media. These messages originated from around 4,200 accounts. The findings are based on data collected by Signify Group’s Threat Matrix service, which was launched in January 2024 and automatically monitors social media activity for players competing in WTA Tour, ITF World Tennis Tour, Wimbledon, and the US Open events. Approximately 1.6 million posts and comments were analyzed by the AI-powered system.
Fifteen cases identified through Threat Matrix were escalated to law enforcement for investigation, according to the report. A significant portion of the abuse was traced to “angry gamblers,” with many messages delivered via direct message. The report highlights a growing trend of gambling-related threats directed at players, mirroring concerns about the increasing popularity of sports betting and the potential for micro-betting within tennis matches.
The Threat Matrix system currently protects 7,739 players competing in ITF World Tennis Tour tournaments and 563 players competing in WTA tournaments. It operates in 39 languages across platforms including X, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok. The system is designed to automatically monitor social media posts for harassment, provide rapid threat assessment, and alert social platforms to abusive content.
Aiava’s recent post on social media detailed the toll the abuse took on her personal life and well-being. She cited “hate or death threats” and unwanted commentary on her body and career. She as well criticized what she described as a hypocritical culture within tennis, stating, “Behind the white outfits and traditions is a culture that’s racist, misogynistic, homophobic and hostile to anyone who doesn’t fit the mould.” Aiava expressed uncertainty about whether she would repeat her career path, acknowledging both the opportunities and the personal costs.
The ITF, WTA, AELTC, and USTA initially partnered to deploy the Threat Matrix service about a year ago, following a period of increasing concern about online abuse directed at players and officials. The partnership was formed to protect individuals within the tennis ecosystem from abusive and threatening content. In the first ten months of operation, the system flagged approximately 12,000 abusive posts and reported them to the relevant social media platforms. Around half of the 52 accounts identified as sending ten or more abusive comments have since been suspended.
The ATP Tour utilizes a separate system, powered by Sportradar’s Arwen AI, to monitor online abuse directed at its players. Tennis officials have not yet publicly responded to Aiava’s allegations.