Tennis Player Threatened by Bettor Over Match Outcome

A chilling incident has underscored the growing problem of online harassment and threats directed at professional athletes, specifically fueled by sports betting. Arthur Bouquier, a French tennis player ranked No. 219 in the world, recently received a disturbing message from a sports bettor who threatened him with physical harm if he failed to win his match at the Thionville Open, an ATP Challenger Tour event.

Bouquier took to Instagram to share the alarming message, originally written in French. Tennis World translated the message, revealing the bettor’s desperate and unhinged plea, centered around Bouquier’s match against Florian Broska, a lower-ranked player at No. 522.

The message began with a harsh critique of French tennis, implying that players like Bouquier primarily compete domestically to avoid the humiliation of losing abroad. The bettor wrote, "French tennis is so mediocre right now that French players stick to playing at home to avoid embarrassment abroad… Let me remind you that you don’t achieve much when you leave France – it shows the limits of your tennis game."

The message then transitioned into the core of the threat. The bettor revealed that he had placed a substantial wager of 2,000 euros on Bouquier to win the match against Broska in straight sets. He emphasized the importance of Bouquier’s victory to his own financial well-being. "Anyway, today you’re playing against Florian Broska, ranked 522, who never wins in the first round. I just hope you make the effort to beat him in 2 sets because I have bet 2000 euros on you to win in 2 sets."

The desperation and potential for violence escalated rapidly as the bettor spelled out the consequences of a Bouquier loss. "I swear, if you lose, I will never forgive you," the message continued, accompanied by a mocking laughing emoji. "I will track you and your family down just to hurt you, even if it means going to prison. Might as well, because if I lose these 2000 euros, I’ll be on the streets, so my life won’t make sense anymore – I might as well spend my days in prison."

Adding to the terror, the bettor claimed to be present at the Thionville court where Bouquier was scheduled to play. "I swear on my mother’s life that I will come for you. Right now, I am at the court in Thionville, where you’re playing exactly at 15:20. Be careful, and these are not empty threats. Good luck."

Bouquier, understandably concerned, tagged the ATP Tour, the International Tennis Federation (ITF), and the Thionville tournament in his Instagram post, bringing the threats to their immediate attention.

Fortunately, Bouquier ultimately won his match against Broska in two sets, with a score of 6-3, 6-4. He advanced to the second round of the tournament, and no incident occurred at the Thionville court.

However, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the dark side of sports betting and its impact on athletes. The ease with which bettors can reach out to athletes through social media and other platforms has created a breeding ground for harassment and threats.

Bouquier’s experience mirrors similar cases, including that of fellow French tennis star Caroline Garcia. Garcia revealed the barrage of threatening and abusive messages she received following losses, including those at the 2024 U.S. Open. "This are some of the messages I received lately after loosing some matches. Just a few of them. There’s hundreds," Garcia wrote on her social media.

Garcia also highlighted the emotional toll that such abuse takes on athletes. "And now, being 30 years old, although they still hurt, because at the end of the day, I’m just a normal girl working really hard and trying my best, I have tools and have done work to protect myself from this hate. But still, this is not ok."

Garcia also questioned the ethical implications of the close relationships between sports organizations and betting companies. She argued that while betting should not be banned, the active promotion of betting companies contributes to unhealthy gambling habits and potentially destructive behavior. "Social media platforms don’t prevent it, despite AI being in a very advanced position. Tournaments and the sport keep partnering with betting companies, which keep attracting new people to unhealthy betting. The days of cigarette brands sponsoring sports are long gone. Yet, here we are promoting betting companies, which actively destroy the life of some people. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying they should be banned as people are free to do whatever they want with their money. But maybe we should not promote them."

She further pointed out the discrepancy in accountability between online and offline behavior. While threatening someone in person could lead to legal repercussions, online anonymity often shields abusers from consequences. "Also, if someone decided to say this things to me in public, he could have legal issues. So why online we are free to do anything? Shouldn’t we reconsider anonymity online?"

The incidents involving Bouquier and Garcia raise serious concerns about the safety and well-being of professional athletes. The rise of online sports betting, combined with the anonymity afforded by the internet, has created a dangerous environment where athletes are increasingly vulnerable to harassment, threats, and abuse. Sports organizations, social media platforms, and lawmakers need to address these issues to protect athletes and ensure the integrity of sports. Stronger regulations on online betting, stricter content moderation on social media, and greater accountability for online abuse are all necessary steps to combat this growing problem. The mental and emotional health of athletes should be of paramount importance, and providing them with adequate support and protection is crucial.