I had first death threat at 18 – Watson on social media abuse

British tennis player Heather Watson says she has received social media abuse “daily” during her career and had her first death threat aged 18.

Watson was speaking after compatriot Katie Boulter told BBC Sport about the scale of unsavoury and hurtful comments she has received online, including death threats.

And Sir Andy Murray has said he is trying to keep his children away from social media and backed calls for more action to prevent abuse of sport stars.

“My first death threat was at 18”, Watson told BBC Sport at a Wimbledon media event on Friday. “I told my friend]American tennis player] 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’.

“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.

“I don’t think anyone in their right mind would abuse someone online they have never met. It just goes over my head, it is just madness”.

Watson is preparing for Wimbledon and will face Danish 23rd seed Clara Tauson in the first round of the singles draw, having been handed a wildcard.

Speaking to BBC Sport earlier this month Boulter said that receiving abusive content and death threats has become “the norm” for athletes and that “it becomes more apparent every single time you go on your phone”.

Murray, who retired from professional tennis in August 2024, said the prevalence of social media abuse “hasn’t really changed”, despite athletes speaking out on the subject for many years.

Other tennis players pressed for more action in response to Boulter’s comments, including calls for social media to implement identity verification.

For their upcoming European Championship defense in Switzerland, several members of the England women’s football team intend to abandon social media.