Cyberbullying is a very common phenomenon in sports. It is especially bad for women, and tennis players have also been subjected to abuse from time to time. Players like Iga Swiatek and others have publicly spoken about the threats they have faced, but their complaints have fallen on deaf ears for so long. However, the tennis bodies have finally found a way to combat them.
Social media unfortunately provides a platform for trolls to initiate inappropriate contact with players. In the last few years, cyberbullying has grown and taken on a life of its own. Many players have called for the governing bodies to provide protection. Their pleas either went unheard or the method of countering the hate was ineffective.
Now, though, the ITF, WTA, AELTC, and USTA have finally launched a proactive monitoring system. Threat Matrix, which is an AI-based software, will monitor players’ social media profiles for abusive and threatening content. It will go into effect on January 1st, 2024.
Tennis authorities launch online abuse monitor: “Tennis players suffer significant social media abuse & other inappropriate online contact, which poses risks to mental health. The ITF, WTA, AELTC & USTA have launched the proactive monitoring service which will begin on 1 January”
— Talking Tennis (@TalkingTennisTT) December 20, 2023
This system will cover the tournaments sanctioned by the above-mentioned organizations. Moreover, it will cover every player who competes in the ITF World Tennis Tour, WTA Tour, Wimbledon, and US Open.
So how does this system work? It will trawl the social media posts of players, scanning for abusive and threatening content. The system will then alert social media platforms and, in more serious cases, law enforcement. It will also provide support for the players.
This is a significant step in the right direction after players like Iga Swiatek and others have suffered for it. Hopefully, the other bodies, such as the ATP and the Australian Open, will join forces soon.
Iga Swiatek and others have faced a lot of online abuse
The Polish player has often found herself on the receiving end of online hate this year. It got especially bad when she defeated Qinwen Zheng at the Cincinnati Open.
The world number one had lost the first set before she turned the match around in her favor. Iga Swiatek won it 3-6, 6-1, 6-1, and looked put out by the criticism she received in the post-match conference. “The amount of hate and criticism me and my team get after losing a set is ridiculous. I want to encourage people to be more thoughtful when they comment on the internet,” she said (via BBC).
Iga Swiatek addresses hate after her match:
“The amount of hate & criticism me & my team get after even losing a set is just ridiculous. I want to encourage people to be more thoughtful when they comment..”
Powerful statement from a great leader.
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 17, 2023
The American star, Sloane Stephens, has also spoken about the issue. Stephens has had to deal with a lot of vitriol from fans and feels that racial abuse has gotten worse. “It’s only continued to get worse, and people online have the free rein to say and do whatever they want,” she said.
With the tennis bodies coming together to mitigate the abuse, it will be a huge relief for the players. It takes a great toll on mental health, and any way to counter it is a welcome change.