Sport is adapting to cyberharassment more than fighting it

At the US Open, press conferences have been filled with controversy: marijuana odors interrupted Aryna Sabalenka’s third-round match, spectators have behaved badly, and influencers have disrupted proceedings badly enough to receive reminders about basic etiquette.

A more serious problem receives less attention. Online harassment affects both male and female players directly, and without distinction. Fan frustration has found a megaphone on social media, while online betting has supplied it with fresh fuel.

Sports bodies say they are responding through prevention and moderation. Yet they are also partnering with prediction-market platforms. That contradiction sits at the heart of the debate.

American player Jessica Pegula is the only athlete mentioned as having taken up the issue directly, through a partnership between the USTA and Kalshi. The platform generates 90% of its revenue from sports betting, adding another layer of tension to the sporting world’s approach to abuse and gambling.