British tennis player Heather Watson has opened up about the relentless social media abuse she has faced throughout her career, including receiving her first death threat at just 18 years old. Watson shared her experiences during a Wimbledon media event, highlighting the pervasive issue of online harassment in the sports world.

Watson recounted the chilling moment she received her first death threat, saying, 'I told my friend Sloane Stephens at the time. The thing that shocked me the most, but also kind of made me feel better - because I told her I was scared as this person told me he was watching me and was going to kill me - was that she said 'girl, don't worry, I get these all the time'.'

Despite the constant barrage of negativity, Watson remains resilient. 'I'm smiling now after so many years and such a long career. I receive abuse daily, but it is all in perspective. It is all just sad people who have nothing better going in their lives than to sit behind their computer or phone and write that,' she said.

Watson is currently preparing for Wimbledon, where she will face Danish 23rd seed Clara Tauson in the first round of the singles draw. She has been handed a wildcard entry, a testament to her enduring talent and determination. Watson won the Wimbledon mixed doubles title in 2016 with Finland's Henri Kontinen and the pair reached the final again the following year.

The issue of social media abuse is not unique to Watson. Fellow British tennis player Katie Boulter has also spoken out about the scale of unsavoury and hurtful comments she has received online, including death threats. Boulter described the abuse as 'the norm' for athletes, a sentiment echoed by Sir Andy Murray, who has called for more action to prevent the harassment of sports stars.

Murray, who retired from professional tennis in August 2024, noted that the prevalence of social media abuse 'hasn't really changed', despite athletes speaking out on the subject for many years. Following Boulter's comments, fellow tennis players have demanded more action, including calls for the introduction of identity verification on social media.

In response to the growing concern, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced that the government will explore whether further protective measures can be put in place on social media platforms. This issue is particularly pressing as several members of the England women's football team plan to give up social media for their forthcoming European Championship defence in Switzerland.

The conversation around social media abuse in sports is far from over, but the courage of athletes like Heather Watson to speak out is a crucial step towards change.