Viewer Discretion Advised: Jessica Pegula shares post-loss DMs

Jessica Pegula took to Instagram to expose “delusional” sports betters following a fourth-round upset to world No. 361 Lois Boisson at Roland Garros.

“A thread on the insane people that bet on tennis,” wrote the American on her Instagram story. “Viewer discretion advised (seriously).”

Just quit playing tennis and enjoy your fathers money! You are literally the most useless top 10 player ever!

Somewhere in the world, there is a tree that’s working really hard to produce the Oxygen that you waste

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“Every person on tour deals with it. It’s so bad,” Pegula wrote. “Those are just really small snippets. I get told my family should get cancer and die from people on here on a regular basis. Absolutely crazy.”

On a post about losing her dog Tucker, one account commented, “you sold this match on purpose. Can’t wait until Karma spends the block back on you. Hopefully your first born child will be a still birth.”

According to a report from Reuters, angry gamblers were responsible for nearly half of social media tennis player abuse. Content across the internet is being monitored in 39 languages, with the WTA, ITF and major tennis organizations figuring out solutions to protect the players from cyberbullying.

“These betters are insane and delusional and I don’t allow DMs and try to remember when to shut my comments off during tournament weeks but they always find a way to my timeline,” wrote Pegula in her story thread. “This stuff has never really bothered me much but does any other sport deal with this to our level? I’d love to know because it seems to be predominately tennis?? It’s so disturbing.”

Pegula also spoke about the sports-wide issue, dicussing hate that hockey players receive competing in the NHL.

“My response was ‘oh that’s it? I get those all the time’,” she said. “That is so messed up that this is my response.”

“I’ve seen stories of comments/threats/stalking making headlines in other sports…well news flash tennis I can guarantee it’s 100 times worse. These comments are nonstop for us. Win or lose—it’s whatever they bet on.”

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Fellow player Naomi Osaka has also vocalized media pressure throughout her career, while 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu has issued restraining orders to stalkers; extra security measures were taken in Miami following verbal attack.

“Again I’m glad this stuff has never really gotten to me (can’t reason with crazy) but it doesn’t mean it doesn’t get to other players or makes it ok,” Pegula’s story thread continues. “When fans get on us athletes to be tougher and stronger and etc etc. just realize you prob don’t have people sending you death threats every day and hoping you family dies and you give birth to a still born child.

“And don’t say ‘stay off social media’ well it’s unavoidable because our careers and sponsors are based off of posting on social media. These are comments I get with my dms and comments turned off…”