Jessica Pegula Blasts Delusional Bettors Over Death Threats After French Open Loss

American tennis sensation Jessica Pegula faced a heartbreaking exit at the French Open, falling to wild-card entry Loïs Boisson in the fourth round. But the real blow came off the court, as Pegula exposed the dark underbelly of sports betting culture with a fiery response to vicious online attacks.

Sharing her frustration on social media, Pegula called out the delusional behavior of bettors who sent her death threats and horrific messages after her loss. From wishing harm on her family to accusing her of throwing the match, the comments she received were nothing short of disturbing. One particularly vile message even hoped for tragedy to strike her future child—a level of cruelty that’s hard to fathom.

Pegula, whose parents own the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres, didn’t hold back in highlighting how pervasive this issue is in tennis. She questioned whether any other sport faces this level of harassment, noting that every player on the Women’s Tennis Association circuit deals with similar abuse. The constant barrage of threats—win or lose—seems tied directly to betting outcomes, a toxic trend that’s spiraled out of control.

What’s more, Pegula revealed that staying offline isn’t an option. Sponsorships demand an active social media presence, forcing players to endure this vitriol as part of the job. She also pointed out that while other sports occasionally make headlines for such threats, tennis players face them at a scale that’s 100 times worse. Even threats flagged by the NHL as concerning barely fazed her—a sad testament to how normalized this hostility has become for her.

This isn’t an isolated issue. Other pros like Arthur Bouquier and Caroline Garcia have shared similar experiences, shedding light on a systemic problem that needs urgent attention. Pegula’s stand isn’t just about her—it’s a rallying cry for the sport to address the safety and mental well-being of its athletes in an era where online hate can strike harder than any opponent on the court.