Ukrainian tennis star hits out at 'shameful' online hate messages after loss

[ad_1] Ukrainian tennis participant Elina Svitolina has spoken out concerning the deluge of hateful abuse she obtained on-line from annoyed gamblers after dropping a match in Canada, together with messages wishing her loss of life and celebrating Russia killing her compatriots.

Following her straight-sets loss to Naomi Osaka within the quarterfinals of the Canadian Open, Svitolina posted screenshots of the messages on Instagram.

An instance of one of many messages Elina Svitolina obtained on her account. ( Provided: Instagram )

The abuse was directed at her, whereas different racial slurs additionally focused her husband, the French tennis participant Gael Monfils, who's Black. One abuser hoped that Russia "kills all you (expletive) Ukrainians" within the conflict raging in Svitolina's nation.

"To all of the bettors: I am a mum earlier than I am an athlete," Svitolina wrote in her Instagram story.

"The best way you speak to ladies — to moms — is SHAMEFUL. In case your moms noticed your messages, they'd be disgusted."

Earlier this yr, British participant Katie Boulter mentioned she obtained loss of life threats throughout the French Open focusing on her and her household, whereas the WTA and ITF referred to as on betting firms to do extra to stem the flood of on-line abuse gamers face on social media.

Boulter instructed the BBC in an interview that on-line abuse has grow to be the norm and that she thinks most of the messages are despatched by people who find themselves putting bets on tennis matches.

Her feedback coincided with the WTA and ITF publishing a primary season-wide report into on-line abuse, displaying that 458 tennis gamers have been focused by greater than 8,000 abusive feedback and posts on social media in 2024.

The report mentioned 40 per cent of the abuse got here from "offended gamblers".

Final month, AFL footballers Jase Burgoyne and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera revealed the racist messages they obtained on Instagram, sparking outrage from their golf equipment and the league as they regarded to establish the culprits.