AI study reveals shocking links between gambling and online tennis abuse: "No one should have to endure the hate we faced"

Gamblers are behind 48% of the 12,000 hateful posts on social media linked to tennis players, according to an AI-based study involving major tennis organisations. Players like Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, and Caroline Garcia have openly addressed the alarming abuse they face online.

The International Tennis Federation (ITF), Women's Tennis Association (WTA), All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), and the United States Tennis Association (USTA) collaborated to closely monitor social media platforms like X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

From January to October 2024, the "Threat Matrix" service analysed over 2.4 million social media posts, identifying 12,000 that violated community guidelines due to abusive or hateful content targeting players.

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The study's findings were shared with social media platforms to enforce sanctions ranging from post removals to account suspensions in severe cases. National law enforcement agencies were also provided with evidence to take legal action.

Two-time Grand Slam champion and WTA Player Council member Victoria Azarenka praised the initiative for creating a “healthier online environment.” The former world No. 1 stated:

"It was essential for the WTA and these partner organisations to take meaningful steps toward filtering, blocking, and reporting hateful and harmful comments. No-one should have to endure the hate that so many of us have faced through these platforms."

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Jonathan Hirshler, CEO of Signify Group, which manages Threat Matrix, remarked: "We are extremely pleased to have helped close down a considerable number of prolific abusive accounts and identified clear drivers for abuse, including a large number of angry gamblers."

The system monitored all players competing in the main draws and qualifiers of Wimbledon and the US Open. It operates in 39 languages, protecting over 7,739 ITF Tour players and 563 WTA Tour players.