Tennis Star Elina Svitolina Receives Hateful Abuse Online After Loss to Naomi Osaka

Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina has faced online hate after her loss to Naomi Osaka in the Canadian Open, including messages wishing her death and celebrating Russia killing her compatriots. Svitolina posted screenshots of the messages on Instagram and condemned the abuse, calling out "betting gamblers" for their shameful behavior. The incident highlights the issue of online abuse in tennis, with 40% of abuse coming from "angry gamblers," according to a report by the WTA and ITF.

Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina has spoken out about the online abuse she received following her loss to Naomi Osaka in the Canadian Open. The 30-year-old posted screenshots of the messages on Instagram, revealing a deluge of hateful comments from frustrated gamblers. The abuse included death threats and racial slurs directed at Svitolina and her husband, French tennis player Gaël Monfils, who is Black.

Svitolina, who lost in straight sets to Osaka, condemned the behavior of the bettors, stating, "To all the bettors: I’m a mom before I’m an athlete. The way you talk to women – to mothers – is SHAMEFUL. If your moms saw your messages, they’d be disgusted." The messages also referenced the ongoing war in Ukraine, with one abuser wishing for Russia to "kill all you (expletive) Ukrainians."

This incident highlights the growing issue of online abuse in tennis. A report by the WTA and ITF revealed that 458 tennis players were targeted by over 8,000 abusive comments and posts on social media in 2024, with 40% of the abuse coming from "angry gamblers" [1]. This is not the first time such abuse has been reported. Earlier this year, British player Katie Boulter faced death threats during the French Open, and AFL footballers Jase Burgoyne and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera revealed racist messages they received on Instagram [2, 3].

The tennis community has called for more action from betting companies to stem the tide of online abuse. The WTA and ITF have urged betting companies to take stronger measures to prevent such incidents [1]. The issue of online abuse is not limited to tennis but is a broader concern in the sports world, affecting various athletes and their families.

References:
[1] https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-07/tennis-elina-svitolina-reveals-online-hate-received-after-loss/105622444
[2] https://www.reuters.com/sports/tennis/elina-svitolina-slams-bettors-shameful-abuse-after-loss-2025-08-06/
[3] https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/06/sport/tennis-wta-elina-svitolina-abuse-bettors-intl