The growing wave of online abuse plaguing tennis players has become a major concern, with top stars like Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff, Iga Świątek, Mirra Andreeva, and several others speaking up about its damaging impact. Aryna Sabalenka has also had to endure her share of hateful messages, recently opening up about her mindset regarding the disturbing trend.
Aryna Sabalenka Opens Up About Facing Online Death Threats
Sabalenka has been the most dominant force on the WTA tour in recent years, spending 83 consecutive weeks as the world No. 1 since October 2024. She has won four Grand Slam titles and recently completed the Sunshine Double. While her remarkable success has garnered widespread admiration, her fame has also exposed her to relentless negative scrutiny.
In an interview with Vogue, the Belarusian revealed that the constant judgment and abuse surrounding her appearance, her on-court behavior, and personal life have even led her to wonder whether she is widely hated by the public.
“With a lot of love and a lot of attention and a lot of success, there’s always gonna be people who judge you. They judge your look, they judge your grunting, your nationality, even your private life, your choices. I don’t scroll a lot, but sometimes I’ll see random comments on Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and I’ll ask my manager, ‘Do people really hate me that much?'” Sabalenka said.
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Although Sabalenka acknowledged that the immense support she receives from spectators worldwide dispelled that notion, she said the voices of online detractors feel more amplified. She also condemned trolls hiding behind anonymous accounts and called out mothers who often send her horrific threats.
“Then I go into the stadium and I feel so much support, and I realize that on the internet, it’s so few people, but it’s so loud. Sometimes it’s a fake account, and I think, You don’t even have the balls to show your face?” she said.
“Or sometimes you click on the profile, and you see it’s a mother with three kids, a happy family living a very conventional, perfect life. And the stuff that she’s messaging you, it’s ‘I want you to die, I want your family to have cancer, you’re a wh*re.’ And I think: There’s something wrong with this planet,” she added.
The world No. 1 further shed light on her attitude toward any legitimate criticism she’s faced, saying, “You have to accept that you’ve been wrong. And I’ve been wrong so many times.”
Looking ahead to the French Open, Aryna Sabalenka has landed at the clay-court Major with the aim of winning her maiden title at the prestigious event. The 28-year-old came agonizingly close to lifting the trophy last year before suffering a heartbreaking loss to Coco Gauff in the final.
