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Taylor Townsend revealed a horrifying and disgusting online abuse she received following a Rome exit as a heckler used a racist remark and threatened the American to behead her. On Saturday, Townsend exited Rome in the third round after Xiyu Wang handed the American a 6-2 0-6 7-5.
After the loss, Townsend shared an email she received that was titled: "Congratulations to fat, dumb n-----." "I'll find you and cut off your head, you deserve it. I want to go to jail. I will enjoy the moment. it will be all over the news.
your stupid head will be on the ground," the email Townsend received read. Townsend screenshotted the email and asked: "How long do we have to deal with this type of BS!???? When is someone going to step up?!" In a follow-up Instagram Story, Townsend said: "Side note: Don't think I'm a sweet lick.
Try me if y'all want to!! You will catch these hands without hesitation!"
Monica Puig throws support at Townsend
Puig, the 2016 Rio Olympics gold medalist, said she was "disgusted" at seeing the abuse Townsend received.
Also, Puig called on the ATP and WTA to step up and find ways to better protect players from such messages. "I am alarmed and disgusted by this. @atptour @wta we need to start doing better to protect our players from this. Not only is this a mental health issue but a security issue as well.
In today's world this CANNOT be ignored," Puig wrote on her Instagram Story. On the court, Rome was a great tournament for 168th-ranked Townsend. In Rome, Townsend won two qualifying matches and also won her Rome first-round match before shocking world No 3 Jessica Pegula in the second round.
After clinching the biggest win of her career against Pegula, Townsend fell just short of beating Wang. However, it was still a great Rome campaign for Townsend, who will also improve around 25 positions on the WTA rankings list.