[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by Ammi

Katie Boulter: British No 2 reveals death threats and online abuse to highlight disturbing side of tennis betting

British No 2 Katie Boulter has opened up about the level of abuse aimed at some tennis players and revealed she and her family have received death threats.

Boulter shared her experiences with BBC Sport to highlight the issue of players receiving toxic messages online.

The 28-year-old's examples included a message telling her to buy "candles and a coffin for your entire family" with a reference to her "grandmother's grave if she's not dead by tomorrow".

Another message stated she should "go to hell" as she had cost the poster money, and another read "hope you get cancer".

"I just wonder who the person is that has sent that. I don't think it's something that I would ever say to my worst enemy. It's just an awful, awful thing to say to anyone. It's horrible," Boulter said.

"As far as death threats, it's just not something you want to be reading straight after an emotional loss.

"A lot of the time you get it after you win as well."


Boulter believes much of the abuse comes from gamblers who have lost money and while she has learned how to better handle it over the years, incidents can raise genuine concerns for her safety.

"I think it just kind of shows how vulnerable we are. You really don't know if this person is on site. You really don't know if they're nearby or if they know where you live or anything like that," she added.

"At the very start of my career, it's probably something I took very personally [...] getting comments about the way you look."

"It becomes more apparent every single time you go on your phone."

The message Boulter received relating to her family came during her French Open first-round victory over Carole Monnet on May 29. After losing the first-set tie-break, Boulter won the match 6-7 (4) 6-1 6-1.

Boulter said she is concerned that both the frequency and severity of the abuse are increasing and worries about the potential impact on younger players.

"I think it increases in number, and it also increases in the level of things that people say. I don't think there's anything off the cards now," Boulter said.

Boulter said she is getting ready for the level of abuse to increase when she plays at Wimbledon, herhome Grand Slam which starts on June 30.

The British No 2 also said she receives online abuse if her partner, Australian world No 12 Alex de Minaur, loses a match.


…full article…

https://www.skysports.com/tennis/new...tennis-betting

What's wrong with the way Boulter looks?

But if what she's saying is true (as I am very cynical towards Sports stars nowadays tbh,) then that's obviously awful for anyone to have to go through.

Just like the stalking situations that Raducanu had to face, or the booing that some of the US Open crowd were doing towards Serena Williams a few years back.

It's not on.

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Mystic Mock

What's wrong with the way Boulter looks?

But if what she's saying is true (as I am very cynical towards Sports stars nowadays tbh,) then that's obviously awful for anyone to have to go through.

Just like the stalking situations that Raducanu had to face, or the booing that some of the US Open crowd were doing towards Serena Williams a few years back.

It's not on.

…there is nothing wrong with her looks…she’s talking about comments/messages that she gets and has always got from people when she’s had a loss and from people who bet on tennis and presumably bet on her to win… and it’s something she has got used to when it’s been about her in any way but it’s gotten worse to the point of being threatening/abusive to her family also…

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by Ammi

…there is nothing wrong with her looks…she’s talking about comments/messages that she gets and has always got from people when she’s had a loss and from people who bet on tennis and presumably bet on her to win… and it’s something she has got used to when it’s been about her in any way but it’s gotten worse to the point of being threatening/abusive to her family also…

The wanting to put her in a Coffin comment is oddly specific.

Imo the Police should be arresting that person.

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Mystic Mock

The wanting to put her in a Coffin comment is oddly specific.

Imo the Police should be arresting that person.

…just going back to her looks and your comment…?…I think maybe also, ‘betting disappointment’…(…if that is indeed the motive behind comments…)…aimed toward a female in competition may take on a differing tone than aimed toward a male sport person…female physical appearances are often the topic of judgement and scrutiny as opposed to their performance…

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by Ammi

…just going back to her looks and your comment…?…I think maybe also, ‘betting disappointment’…(…if that is indeed the motive behind comments…)…aimed toward a female in competition may take on a differing tone than aimed toward a male sport person…female physical appearances are often the topic of judgement and scrutiny as opposed to their performance…

I think it's because these arseholes know that a lot of women take pride in their appearance (more than men on average anyway,) and they will most likely upset the woman competing, which is incredibly harsh considering it's just a Sport.

Obviously I don't believe that men should be attacked for their appearance either.

But in general these guys take on the different tone (that you're referring to,) because yes it's more embedded in society to judge a woman more on her appearance than we do men.

But I do think that these arseholes know that in general, women will be more visibly upset if her looks are attacked.

And all over a game of Tennis nonetheless, it's pathetic behaviour.

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Mystic Mock

I think it's because these arseholes know that a lot of women take pride in their appearance (more than men on average anyway,) and they will most likely upset the woman competing, which is incredibly harsh considering it's just a Sport.

Obviously I don't believe that men should be attacked for their appearance either.

But in general these guys take on the different tone (that you're referring to,) because yes it's more embedded in society to judge a woman more on her appearance than we do men.

But I do think that these arseholes know that in general, women will be more visibly upset if her looks are attacked.

And all over a game of Tennis nonetheless, it's pathetic behaviour.

…I don’t think that’s true, females are and have always been more open to have comments/critic on physical, which has no bearing on their own confidence in anything about themselves…it is more surely a power thing …

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by Ammi

…I don’t think that’s true, females are and have always been more open to have comments/critic on physical, which has no bearing on their own confidence in anything about themselves…it is more surely a power thing …

Oh I definitely think that the power component plays it's part.

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Mystic Mock

The wanting to put her in a Coffin comment is oddly specific.

Imo the Police should be arresting that person.

…it’s obviously one of the death threats that she’s referring to…

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by Ammi

…it’s obviously one of the death threats that she’s referring to…

She should seriously go to the Police about that comment.

Just like Raducanu should be dealing with that persistent stalker through legal means.