“Damir Džumhur and his family are targets of death threats.”

Tennis is being plagued by a growing wave of online hate that has surpassed all bounds of decency and safety. Top players such as Damir Džumhur, Lucrezia Stefanini, Roman Burruchaga, and Panna Udvardy have been victims of death threats and violent virtual attacks, largely linked to the frustration of gamblers losing money. The latest shocking case came after Džumhur’s hard-fought victory in Bucharest, when his brother received terrifying messages that expose the darker side of the sport.

After a dramatic win of 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(4) against Filip Cristian Jianu, Damir Džumhur saw his family dragged into the eye of a digital storm. Zlatan Džumhur, his brother, shared on Instagram a message he received: “I don’t know what @damirdzumhur means to you, but I wish him and his whole family a slow and painful death.” A brutal statement that, unfortunately, is not an isolated incident.

Zlatan publicly denounced this online abuse and issued a stern warning: “I receive messages like this often, and it’s incredible how people feel comfortable saying things they would never say face to face.” The psychological impact of such attacks is devastating. “Just imagine what athletes and public figures face every day. The intensity and constant negativity are on another level,” he added, also criticizing the role of social media in allowing this behavior to spread easily. “We normalize this type of attitude online, forgetting that there are real people on the other side of the screen.”

Damir Džumhur did not remain silent and responded by sharing his brother’s post on his own Instagram, vehemently condemning this type of hatred: “This is so sick! I accept that I can’t change everything in life, but this, these people who write me the worst things after matches, is unacceptable.” Frustration mounts when the threats extend to his family: “How can someone be so sick to do this?” questioned the Bosnian tennis player, calling into question the direction of today’s society.

This is not an isolated case on the ATP and WTA circuit. Last year, British player Katie Boulter was also the target of horrific messages following a narrow defeat at the French Open. Among the threats were wishes for cancer, grave desecration, and even cruel insults linked to bets lost by family members. “Go to hell, I lost the money my mother sent me,” read one of the messages, illustrating the extreme hostility that players face.

Jessica Pegula, the American star and member of the WTA board, has also spoken out against this epidemic of abuse. Following an unexpected defeat at the French Open, she publicly revealed several aggressive and personal messages she had received. “These gamblers are insane and delusional,” she vented, highlighting how deeply rooted this crisis is in tennis. Pegula explained that she tries to protect herself by turning off direct messages and controlling comments on social media, but even so, the hate still finds its way to her. “Do other sports experience this level of abuse? I want to believe they don’t, but it seems like it’s in tennis that this happens the most,” she stated, emphasizing the seriousness of the issue.

The attacks go beyond sporting performance; they also reach the personal lives of athletes. One message directed at Pegula accused her of manipulating results and wished for family tragedies, which underscores the cruelty and dehumanization surrounding tennis today.

Pegula’s appeal is clear and urgent: “Online abuse is unacceptable, and no player should have to endure it. It’s time for the betting industry and social media to act at the root of the problem to protect those on the front lines of these threats.”

With the case of Damir Džumhur now gaining prominence, pressure is mounting on the governing bodies of tennis to take effective and urgent measures. The mental health of players is at risk, and if nothing is done, the sport may be losing more than just matches – it could be losing its integrity and humanity. It is time to put an end to this epidemic of hate before it is too late.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.