The issue of gambling in American sports is on the rise, with players from various leagues facing abuse from disgruntled bettors. Most recently, Australian tennis pro Jordan Thompson found himself targeted by a heckler during his match against Ugo Humbert at the Cincinnati Open.
Despite ultimately defeating Humbert 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4) on Tuesday, Thompson had to contend with a disruptive heckler throughout the match. The heckler, who allegedly had a bet on Humbert, was intent on causing a disturbance to throw Thompson off his game and secure a win for his favored player. This behavior not only irritated Thompson but also the fans in attendance.
One spectator, identified as J-Rube, provided a live account of the incident on social media. Security officials were reportedly called in to address the heckler’s disruptive behavior, but he managed to remain in the arena for the entire match. According to J-Rube, the heckler was seen placing bets on DraftKings on his phone during the match, further indicating his involvement in gambling.
The heckler’s comments, such as expressing a preference for seeing Nick Kyrgios over Thompson, only added to the tension and discomfort for the Australian player. Despite Thompson raising concerns with officials about the heckler’s behavior, he was not ejected from the stadium. However, J-Rube noted that this incident actually rallied the fans in Thompson’s favor, as they were collectively annoyed by the heckler’s actions.
Looking ahead, Thompson is set to face Argentinian player Sebastian Baez in the Round of 32 at the Open on Wednesday. The incident serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by athletes in dealing with disruptive and abusive behavior from spectators, particularly those driven by gambling interests.
Overall, the growing prevalence of gambling-related disruptions in sports highlights the need for increased vigilance and measures to protect athletes from such unwarranted interference. The incident involving Jordan Thompson underscores the importance of maintaining a safe and respectful environment for players to compete in their respective sports without facing distractions or harassment from outside sources.