American Shelby Rogers said she expected to get death warnings on social media following her US Open fourth-round defeat by Emma Raducanu.
The 28-year-old, ranked 43 in the world, was beaten 6-2 6-1 by Britain’s Raducanu.
“I’m going to have nine million death threats and whatnot. At this point in my career, I’d say I’m used to it,” Rogers expressed.
“I really wish that social media does not exist.”
Rogers’ compatriot Sloane Stephens also spoke out about the online abuse she received following her 5-7 6-2 6-3 third-round loss to Angelique Kerber.
Stephens said she received over 2,000 messages of abuse, including racist and sexist comments, and shared instances of the abuse in an Instagram story.
“You could likely go through my profile right now, I’m doubtless a ‘fat pig’ and words that I can’t say right now,” added Rogers, who knocked out world number one Ashleigh Barty in the third round.
“It’s really inappropriate and some of it gets to your head often.”
The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) says it is working on the problem of online abuse towards professional athletes with a risk assessment and management company called Theseus.
“Theseus and the WTA work with the social media platforms to close down accounts when sanctioned, and if applicable, local authorities are informed,” expressed the WTA.
