Caroline Garcia, a former U.S. Open semifinalist, shed light on the persistent issue of cyberbullying in tennis, particularly from individuals involved in match betting, following her recent first-round defeat at the Grand Slam event. The 30-year-old French player, who was seeded 28th at Flushing Meadows, expressed her dismay on social media about the hurtful messages she received after her loss to Renata Zarazúa, including disturbing comments suggesting self-harm and death wishes towards her family.
Garcia emphasized the emotional toll such cyberbullying takes on athletes, regardless of their age or ranking, and voiced concern for younger players who may be more vulnerable to such attacks. She highlighted the damaging impact of online harassment and the lack of significant progress in addressing this pervasive issue within the tennis community.
In addition to facing abusive messages from fans, Garcia highlighted the negative influence of betting companies’ association with tennis events, pointing out the harmful effects of promoting unhealthy gambling habits. She criticized the continued partnership between tournaments and betting companies, likening it to the past endorsement of tobacco brands in sports.
The prevalence of social media harassment in tennis is a longstanding concern, with players regularly facing verbal attacks from disgruntled gamblers and other individuals online. Efforts have been made by Grand Slam tournaments, such as the French Open and organizations like the U.S. Open, Wimbledon, and the ITF Tour, to implement measures to prevent athletes from being exposed to abusive content on various social media platforms.
Despite these initiatives, Garcia stressed the urgent need for stronger action and greater accountability from social media platforms in addressing cyberbullying issues in sports. She urged empathy and kindness from the public towards athletes and public figures, reminding everyone to consider the human aspect behind every performance or outcome.