USA – 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva was subjected to online abuse after her unexpected third-round loss at the Miami Open.

On March 24, Andreeva shared a screenshot of a message from a fan on social media, which read: "You deserve the worst kind of cancer."

Below the image, she wrote: "And this is what you get after losing a match."

Andreeva quickly deleted the post, but it had already been captured and shared by many, including journalists. "Mirra Andreeva just won 13 straight matches, claimed two WTA 1000 titles, and she’s only 17. This is disgraceful," tennis journalist Jose Morgado wrote on X when discussing the incident.

The third-round match between Andreeva and Amanda Anisimova, both WTA 1000 champions, was marked by controversy in the deciding set. When Andreeva was serving at 1-3, 40-40, Anisimova requested a medical timeout to address an injury concern. Andreeva appeared frustrated, believing it was a tactical move to disrupt her rhythm. However, the medical staff confirmed that Anisimova was entitled to treatment. The American later won the set 6-3.

After the match, Anisimova posted an image of her middle finger, showing a cut on it—a move many interpreted as a veiled response to the controversy.

Growing Online Abuse in Tennis

Top players often face online abuse after defeats, mostly from bettors who lose money wagering on them. Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka have encountered similar situations. In 2013, Angelique Kerber even contacted the police after receiving death threats following a shock loss in Wimbledon’s second round.

Online harassment has become a growing issue, especially for female players. Some athletes choose to deactivate their social media accounts, while others expose the messages publicly. Before Andreeva, Jessica Pegula had also spoken out about receiving threats and curses from fans, calling for tennis organizations to take action against violent, offensive, and harassing messages.

Beyond social media, players also face real-world harassment. Recently, Emma Raducanu was stalked across three countries by a fan who even snuck into tournament venues to intimidate her. After she reported the issue to officials, the fan was ejected from the stadium and banned from all WTA events.

Despite the incident, Raducanu remains focused and has reached the Miami Open quarterfinals. Top seed Aryna Sabalenka also advanced to the last eight, defeating home favorite Danielle Collins 6-4, 6-4.