Elina Svitolina Faces Online Harassment from Betting Players

Tennis star Elina Svitolina has been subjected to harassment – from online players who have bet money on her loss match. At the same time, WTA warns of a growing problem. "If your mothers saw the messages, they would be disgusted,” writes Svitolina on Instagram.

» Published: August 08 2025

Elina Svitolina Faces Online Harassment from Betting Players
Photo: Christinne Muschi/AP/TT

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After a loss in the WTA tournament in Montreal, the Ukrainian herself has shared the online hate she has received, including death threats and the celebration of Russians who have killed her compatriots, writes AP.

"To all net players: I am first and foremost a mother and then an athlete. The way you speak to women - to mothers - is shameful", writes the 30-year-old after the match in Canada.

She is not alone. Earlier this year, the Briton Katie Boulter stated that she had received online hate during the French Championships and suspected that it came from net players, the harassment came with both wins and losses, wrote BBC.

The Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia testifies to similar harassment. She compares betting companies with tobacco companies and questions their right to sponsor tennis tournaments.

Also, the American sprinter Gabby Thomas, who won three Olympic Games gold medals in Paris, told last year about harassment by a man who had bet money and tried to get her out of balance and perform worse.

WTA and the International Tennis Federation (ITF) published a report last year where 458 tennis players stated that they had been exposed to online hate in 2024. 40 percent of all comments are said to have come from "angry net players".

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By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

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