WTA addresses harassment in tennis

The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) has increased its efforts to tackle harassment directed at female players, with a special focus on abuse from bettors and online sources. This comes amid growing concerns about the impact of online interactions on athletes.

Lindsay Brandon discusses abuse cases

Lindsay Brandon, director of protection and integrity at the WTA, spoke about these efforts during an interview on the podcast Love All, hosted by Kim Clijsters and Blair Henley. She mentioned that her department handled 114 cases in 2026, a significant increase from 78 cases in 2025.

Sports betting linked to abuse

Brandon highlighted that a large portion of the abusive messages identified in 2025 were connected to sports betting. Specifically, 42% of all abusive messages were related to betting, and this percentage increased to 59% for the most severe cases of abuse.

WTA uses technology to combat abuse

To address this issue, the WTA utilizes Threat Matrix, a social media monitoring system, and the Bad Actor Program, which enables partner betting operators to identify and block users responsible for sending harmful messages. Fanatics Sportsbook has recently joined this initiative.

Investigations into in-person abuse

In addition to online harassment, the WTA is also investigating potential abusive behavior in the environments where players train and compete. However, the 114 cases handled in 2026 may not all be confirmed as verified incidents of abuse.

Rising reports may reflect better awareness

The increase in reported cases could also be due to improved identification of problematic situations and a greater willingness among players and staff to report issues. This suggests that the WTA's efforts are likely leading to more transparency and accountability.