Jack Draper calls out social media trolls who 'sit on their mum's couch and nail Quavers' while abusing tennis stars - after fellow Brit Katie Boulter revealed the scale of 'disgusting abuse' she receives

Daily Mail​

18 hours ago

Jack Draper made a cutting jibe at social media trolls who abuse tennis players online after fellow British star Katie Boulter revealed the scale of horrendous messages she receives on a regular basis.
The British No2 opened up in an interview with the BBC ahead of her first-round match in Nottingham this week as she shared that trolls had told her that they 'hoped she got cancer ' and would damage 'her grandmother's grave'.
Boulter said that abusive messages had become the norm and suggested that a large portion of the abuse can be linked to gambling - although she has received messages regardless of whether she wins or loses.
The world No39 claimed abuse is likely to be 'astronomical' at Wimbledon citing an increase around Grand Slams, while noting she also receives messages based on the performances of her fiance Alex de Minaur.
But Draper was keen to stress he gave social media commenters the short shirt as he doled out an insult for would-be trolls in the wake of his first-round victory at Queen's on Tuesday.
'I take comfort in knowing that whoever's (abusing players online) is probably sat on their mum's couch, nailing a bag of Quavers with their pants on,' Draper said when asked about Boulter's interview.
'To be honest,' Draper added, 'I don't really do social media. I don't see it too much.
'But there does need to be something that gets done about not just in tennis but in professional sport. It's too easy to spread hate. I guess that's Twitter, Instagram, that's the world we live in. I'm not a fan of social media at all.'
The British No1 also hailed his compatriot, adding: 'I think Katie is right. I saw her interview. I think she's correct in what she's saying about future generations. I think we're lucky enough to maybe have grown up into social media, whereas the generation coming up are growing up with it.
'So they know nothing different. I think it's so easy to spread online hate. It's not easy, especially, I think she said, when you're younger and you lose a match or something, and you come into the professional tour and getting all this abuse saying they will come around your house and do this and that. It's not nice.'
Tuesday saw the publication of a report from the WTA and the International Tennis Federation based on findings from Signify Group's Treat Matrix service, which was established last year in a bid to protect players from online hate.
A total of 458 players were targeted with direct abuse or threat, with five players received 26 per cent of the total abuse identified. The service also found 97 prolific accounts were responsible for 23 per cent of all detected abuse.
The report also noted that angry gamblers had sent 40 per cent of all detected abuse late year, as they sought to cause direct emotional distress to players following lost bets.
Jessica Pegula earlier this month had shared the scale of online abuse following her French Open defeat, taking aim at 'insane and delusional' bettors.
Five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek and France's Carolina Garcia have previously spoken out about abuse in recent months.
Gael Monfils, the veteran French men's star, also took aim at gamblers online in a light hearted response to messages earlier this month.
'This is not financial advice,' Monfils said. 'But really? You're still betting on me? First tournament on grass, I play Alex Michelsen, 20 years old, No. 35 in the world, and you want to bet on me?
'You're writing that I'm s***, I know I'm s***, we both know I'm s***, and you still bet on me?. Who's the dumbest between you and me? Let's be honest.'
Draper will step onto court again on Wednesday after bypassing Tuesday's opponent Jenson Brooksby in straight sets.
The 23-year-old will play Australia's Alexei Popyrin for a spot in the third round in west Kensington.