ATP reports on Safe Sport program

The ATP has released the findings from the second year of its Safe Sport initiative, which is designed to shield professional tennis players from online abuse. The program analyzes comments on social media and other platforms to identify harmful content directed at players.

Abusive comments identified and removed

Over 3.7 million comments were examined in the past year, and more than 284,000 were found to be abusive. Of these, over 234,000 were either hidden or deleted before reaching players and their followers, aiming to prevent exposure to harmful messages.

AI and human review used in the program

The Safe Sport program, launched in 2024 in partnership with Sportradar, uses artificial intelligence to detect and automatically mask problematic content. However, some messages required human review, with over 1,800 comments sent to specialists and 690 automatic alerts raised about potential threats.

Specialists evaluate and address threats

The alerts were reviewed by investigators specializing in such matters, and in some cases, they were passed on to the appropriate authorities. This process ensures that potential threats are taken seriously and addressed appropriately.

Most players face abuse online

More than 85% of players who had their accounts monitored experienced abusive comments. These messages came from over 100,000 different accounts, highlighting the widespread nature of the issue.

Program expansion benefits more players

Initially limited to the top 250 singles and top 50 doubles players, the Safe Sport program has now expanded to include all male players, regardless of their ATP ranking. This expansion was partly made possible by the integration of Social Protect, a tool designed to enhance online safety.

Challenger circuit players also affected

The expansion is particularly significant for players on the Challenger circuit, who often face insults, especially after losses or withdrawals. The program's expansion aims to provide them with the same level of protection as higher-ranked players.

Abuse levels remain high

In the first Safe Sport report released in August 2025, over 162,000 comments were classified as seriously abusive, indicating that the issue of online abuse in tennis remains a significant concern.