Warning, distressing language: An aspiring tennis prospect has revealed the extent of the online abuse she’s received throughout her budding career to date
A young Belgian tennis player has shared the alarming extent of the online abuse she’s endured throughout her emerging career.
Aspiring athlete Amélie Van Impe has been subjected to disturbing threats, including death and rape, due to her on-court performances. Despite being ranked 536th globally and still early in her professional journey, Van Impe has been targeted by enraged gamblers who lost money betting on her matches.
The abuse started shortly after she began competing in tournaments where betting is allowed. Van Impe estimates that around 90% of the abusive messages she receives come from men, ranging from threats to demands for repayment.
Van Impe, now 19, revealed that the abuse has been constant since she was 16, coinciding with her participation in her first international tournament where money was at stake. She receives an overwhelming number of messages, often immediately after a match, mostly on Instagram and sometimes even on WhatsApp.
The rise of online gambling has led to a concerning trend where athletes are increasingly targeted by bettors who lose money. Public figures like Van Impe are calling for more robust action from social media platforms and governments to curb such behavior, though progress has been slow.
Among the vile messages Van Impe has received are hopes that she gets cancer and threats against her family. Despite efforts from federations to track down and punish offenders, many simply create new profiles to continue their harassment.
“If I had the power, I’d shut down all the gambling platforms,” Van Impe said, acknowledging the limitations of what she can do. “People like this will always find a way to make money from sport. All we can do is accept how things are.”
