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• BBC
• Tue Jun 17 2025

Boulter's reasoning for sharing the messages is two-fold.

The first, she says, is abusive content like this has become "the norm". Boulter, 28, also has fears about the impact it can have on younger players.

"At the very start of my career, it's probably something I took very personally... getting comments about the way you look," she says.

"It becomes more apparent every single time you go on your phone.

"I think it increases in number and it also increases in the level of things that people say. I don't think there's anything off the cards now."

The message threatening her loved ones was sent during her French Open first-round match against Carole Monnet on 29 May.

After losing the first-set tie-break, Boulter rallied to win 6-7 (4-7) 6-1 6-1 - her first victory in the main draw at Roland Garros.

As she reflects on the messages she receives, she says it is hard to differentiate between those that constitute a genuine risk and those that do not.

"I think it just kind of shows how vulnerable we are," Boulter says. "You really don't know if this person is on site. You really don't know if they're nearby or if they know where you live or anything like that."

Looking again at the message hoping she gets cancer, she shakes her head.

"I just wonder who the person is that has sent that," she says.

"I don't think it's something that I would ever say to my worst enemy. It's just an awful, awful thing to say to anyone. It's horrible."