(Antonio Borga/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
U.S. tennis player Sloane Stephens believes racist abuse directed toward athletes is getting worse, particularly online, she said after her first-round win Monday at the French Open.
Such racism is something she has had to deal with throughout her career, the former U.S. Open champion said following her 6-0, 6-4 victory over Karolina Pliskova.
“Yes, it’s obviously been a problem my entire career,” Stephens said. “It has never stopped. If anything, it’s only gotten worse.”
Players at the French Open have access to an online tool designed to block harassment and hate speech, but Stephens has not used it. She does block certain key words on Instagram and take other measures to protect herself, but even still, abuse slips through the cracks, she said.
The French Open is the first of the four Grand Slams to introduce the tool. French Tennis Federation CEO Caroline Flaissier said players’ mental health is a “priority” for the tournament.
Following the US Open in 2021, Stephens…
