WTA and ITF urge gambling industry to address player abuse

The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) and the International Tennis Federation (ITF) have jointly released a landmark report exposing the alarming extent of online abuse targeted at professional tennis players. The findings, based on data collected through the Threat Matrix system developed by the Signify Group, reveal an entrenched problem of hostile and threatening online behavior, much of it driven by disgruntled individuals engaged in sports betting.

In response, the WTA and ITF are not only taking robust steps to safeguard players but are also urging the gambling industry to take responsibility for a significant proportion of this abuse. This report marks a turning point in how sports governing bodies are dealing with online hostility, particularly that which affects athlete wellbeing and event security.

Overview of the Threat Matrix report

Comprehensive monitoring of abuse

The Threat Matrix system was launched in January 2024 by Signify Group, offering real-time threat detection using a combination of artificial intelligence, linguistics, and expert human analysts. It monitors content in over 40 languages across all major social media platforms, focusing on players, coaches, family members, and affiliated personnel across both WTA Tour and ITF World Tennis Tour events, including the four Grand Slam tournaments.

As of December 2024, the system had assessed over 1.6 million posts and comments, identifying approximately 8000 as abusive, violent, or threatening. These originated from 4200 unique accounts. The service covered around 8,300 athletes, automatically safeguarding their online engagement through surveillance and intervention measures.

The scope and scale of the problem

Targeted hostility and patterns of abuse

The findings are troubling. Throughout the year, 458 individual players were subjected to direct threats or abusive messages. While abuse was widespread, it was also concentrated, with just five players receiving 26% of all abusive content.

Moreover, a small number of accounts were responsible for a disproportionately large volume of the harmful content. Only 97 user accounts were responsible for generating 23% of the total abusive content detected. One account alone was responsible for sending 263 abusive messages.

A significant link to sports betting

One of the most troubling aspects is the connection between abusive messages and individuals involved in the gambling sector. The report estimates that 40% of all abuse originated from individuals angry about the outcome of bets. This trend reflects a deepening pattern of gamblers engaging in targeted harassment when outcomes do not favor their wagers.

The WTA and ITF identified 10 particularly prolific abusive accounts, the majority of which were linked to gambling-related grievances. Among these, nine accounts were either suspended or had their content permanently deleted, while 39 individuals responsible for abusive behavior were referred to tennis governing bodies and betting companies for further review and possible disciplinary measures.

Law enforcement and platform responses

Escalation of serious threats

The Threat Matrix system has not merely identified online hostility—it has catalyzed meaningful action. In 2024 alone, 15 highly serious and threatening abuse cases were escalated to law enforcement agencies for further investigation. These included four Grand Slam-related incidents, one incident from the Paris Olympic Games, and ten from other WTA or ITF events.

Of these cases, three have been submitted to the FBI, and the remaining 12 to national police forces in relevant jurisdictions. The perpetrators in these instances are not only subject to possible legal consequences but have also had their details forwarded to event security teams, resulting in bans from tournament venues and revoked ticket access.

Support for direct abuse cases

The Threat Matrix initiative also extends beyond public social media posts. It incorporates a reporting mechanism that allows players to submit direct abuse received via DMs, email, and even physical letters.

In 2024, 28 players filed 56 direct reports, the majority occurring in the final quarter as awareness of the reporting channel increased. Here too, 77% of this abuse was traced back to angry gamblers, a significantly higher proportion than on open social media (40%). The severity and personal nature of such direct threats underscores the emotional and psychological burden players endure.

Social media moderation and preventive actions

Strengthening digital safeguards

In response to the escalating issue, the WTA and ITF have announced the enhancement of the Threat Matrix system to include real-time moderation features. These upgrades will allow for toxic content to be hidden or removed instantaneously across supported platforms.

This service will be integrated across the official social media accounts of the WTA and ITF and made available to individual players upon request, representing a critical development in the battle against online harassment. The updated moderation system is expected to go live in the coming weeks.

Stakeholder response and responsibility

Governing bodies take a firm stance

A joint spokesperson for the WTA and ITF emphasized the importance of taking a zero-tolerance approach:

“Protecting players and the wider tennis family from vile online threat and abuse is a key priority for us. Today’s report covering the first year of the Threat Matrix service shows the scale of the problem and, crucially, the actions being taken to protect our athletes. From law enforcement escalation and platform intervention to banning abusers from our events, perpetrators must understand that they will face consequences for their actions.”

Furthermore, the WTA and ITF are urging the gambling industry to engage in constructive dialogue and adopt preventive policies, such as stronger identity verification, account suspension protocols, and data sharing to combat abuse.

Voices from within the sport

WTA Players’ Council member Jessica Pegula stated:

“Online abuse is unacceptable, and something that no player should have to endure. I welcome the work that the WTA and ITF are doing with Threat Matrix to identify and take action against the abusers, whose behavior is so often linked to gambling. But it’s not enough on its own. It’s time for the gambling industry and social media companies to tackle the problem at its source and act to protect everyone facing these threats.”

Technology partners highlight data-driven solutions

Jonathan Hirshler, CEO of Signify Group, highlighted the potential of targeted action:

“This unique dataset, covering all players across international tennis tours and Grand Slams, illustrates that a relatively small number of accounts are responsible for a significant proportion of prolific abuse and trolling. While this is deeply distressing for the athletes targeted, it means that we are able to be even more focused… ensuring successful take down, supporting the tennis bodies to drive law enforcement intervention, and ensuring prolific abusers are unable to attend tournaments.”

A coordinated path forward

The WTA and ITF's report not only underscores the growing threat of online abuse but also illustrates that strategic, data-driven intervention is effective. While the actions taken so far demonstrate progress, meaningful and lasting change will require collaboration across the sports ecosystem, including social media companies, gambling operators, and law enforcement authorities.

The message is clear: tennis players deserve a safe, respectful digital environment, and those who weaponize online platforms to harass or threaten athletes must face real-world consequences.

Conclusion

The publication of this in-depth report by the WTA and ITF represents a crucial and timely move in addressing the growing problem of online harassment within professional tennis. The data not only reveals the alarming scale and severity of abuse directed at players but also highlights that a significant portion originates from a limited group of users—many of whom appear driven by frustrations linked to gambling outcomes.

Through the implementation of the Threat Matrix system, both organizations have demonstrated a firm commitment to protecting their athletes by employing technology, expert analysis, and collaboration with law enforcement and security personnel. However, while current efforts have yielded meaningful results, the path to long-term change requires broader participation.

The tennis authorities’ call to the gambling industry is both urgent and reasonable. It highlights the shared responsibility all stakeholders must bear in ensuring players are not subjected to hostile environments simply for competing in their sport. Gambling operators, social media platforms, and tournament organizers must align their efforts to monitor, report, and act upon abusive behavior at its source.

At its core, this is not solely a matter of digital etiquette—it is an issue of player welfare, personal safety, and the integrity of professional sport. Only through a coordinated and persistent approach can the sport ensure that the values of respect, safety, and professionalism extend from the court to the online world. The message from the WTA and ITF is clear: abuse will not be tolerated, and those who engage in it will face consequences.

FAQs

What is the Threat Matrix service used by the WTA and ITF?
Threat Matrix is an AI-powered threat detection and monitoring system developed by Signify Group to identify and act upon abusive or threatening content directed at tennis players and their affiliates.

How many social media posts were analysed in the 2024 season?
Threat Matrix reviewed approximately 1.6 million posts and comments across multiple platforms between January and December 2024.

Who was primarily responsible for the abuse detected?
A significant portion of the abuse—approximately 40%—was linked to individuals angered by gambling losses.

What actions have been taken against abusive individuals?
Accounts responsible for serious threats have been reported to law enforcement, banned from events, and had posts removed or accounts suspended.

Which players were most affected by online abuse?
A total of 458 players were targeted in 2024, with just five players receiving over a quarter of all abuse.

How are direct messages and emails monitored?
Players can report abuse received via direct communication to the Threat Matrix team, which assesses the threat and coordinates with security and legal bodies.

What role does the gambling industry play in this problem?
Many abusive messages originate from gamblers upset over match outcomes. The WTA and ITF are urging gambling operators to adopt policies to deter such behavior.

What new features are being added to the Threat Matrix service?
A new moderation feature will allow harmful content to be automatically hidden or deleted in real time from WTA and ITF social media platforms.

How are law enforcement agencies involved?
Fifteen severe abuse cases have been submitted to national and international law enforcement, including the FBI, for further investigation.

What are the goals of the WTA and ITF with this initiative?
The ultimate goal is to protect athletes from abuse, ensure accountability for perpetrators, and foster a safer digital environment for all tennis stakeholders.