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Patrick McEnroe said tennis players are facing increased online abuse as betting grows around the sport, adding a player-protection warning to a broader discussion of the US Open’s rising popularity.
Speaking on a Fox Business segment about the tournament, McEnroe said tennis has long been one of the most bet-on sports and that wagering has expanded into point-by-point markets. He also said players, as individual athletes, can become direct targets when bettors lose.
“They get tons of abuse online. That needs to be controlled,” McEnroe said.
Point-by-point betting adds pressure to an individual sport
McEnroe described tennis as “bigger than ever,” with the US Open drawing more attention, louder crowds, influencers and a more intense overall atmosphere. But he also said the growth in betting has changed how some fans engage with matches.
According to McEnroe, one concern is that tennis betting now reaches down to individual points and sets, creating more moments for bettors to react in real time. He said that is especially problematic in a sport where players compete alone, without teammates to absorb public criticism.
“What is problematic in tennis is the players catch a lot of abuse as individual athletes,” he said.
Match-fixing concerns remain focused on lower-tier events
McEnroe also said lower-level professional tennis has seen cases of players taking bribes to throw a set, while adding that “thankfully, it’s never happened at the highest levels of pro tennis.” He said gambling in tennis and other sports “needs to be regulated and controlled.”
The segment did not point to a specific new policy response, but it framed abuse and integrity as part of the cost of betting’s wider reach in sports.
The conversation also widened to the NFL and prediction markets. The transcript cited an American Gaming Association estimate that $29.5 billion would be wagered on the NFL season, alongside discussion that prediction markets could eventually reach a similar scale.
For New York readers, the comments are notable because they came during US Open coverage, where betting interest and national attention converge. While the segment was not about New York regulation, it highlighted a recurring issue for sports bettors, athletes and regulators alike: the more granular betting becomes, the more pressure can land directly on players.
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Source: As reported by Fox Business.
