Lost game attracts abuse

A French tennis star internationally ranked among the top 25 women’s singles players has hit out at gambling firms after she received online abuse for losing a game at the 2024 US Open Tennis Championships.  

took to social media to push back against the abuse

Caroline Garcia, 30, took to social media to push back against the abuse and question the marketing of betting firms, which, she stated: “actively destroy the life of some people.” On X Wednesday, Garcia posted a long message accompanied by examples of abuse that included “I hope your mom dies soon” and “you are a piece of s**t”:  

Garcia said she received “hundreds” of messages like this after losing matches. Her latest loss in the first-round of the US Open to the unseeded Mexican Renata Zarazúa, a shocking 6-1, 6-4 defeat, attracted further abuse and prompted Garcia to speak out.

According to The Guardian, the French tennis star and former world number four blamed sports betting as the prime reason players get targeted on social media. By tennis constantly partnering with betting brands, Garcia said, the sport keeps “attracting new people to unhealthy betting.”

Widespread problem

While tennis stars like Garcia are no strangers to anonymous death threats, the fightback against online abuse is gaining momentum, with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred last month voicing his concern for the safety of baseball players due to the increase in gambling-related threats.  

Garcia, however, took direct aim at social media platforms for letting the abuse get through and for not running checks on anonymous users.

“Social media platforms don’t prevent it, despite AI being in a very advanced position,” Garcia wrote, adding: “So why online we are free to do anything?”

The two-time French Open doubles champion questioned the lassitude of online anonymity, stating that, conversely, if someone abused her in public “he could have legal issues.”

Garcia’s Wednesday post expressed her raw emotions. She said that despite being 30 and having worked on protecting herself “from this hate” the abuse still hurt. She also voiced concern about the effect of abuse on younger tennis players, who “haven’t yet developed fully as a human and that really might be affected by this hate.”

Garcia plaintively added that when tennis pros like her get abusive messages when “already emotionally destroyed after a tough loss” the effect “can be damaging.”

Suggestions and support

Garcia stated that while many athletes before her have reported online abuse, “no progress has been made.” Acknowledging people were “free to do whatever they want with their money,” and that she wasn’t calling on banning sports betting partnerships. Garcia suggested, however, that “maybe we should not promote them.”

constant death threats and family threats are normal now”

According to The Guardian, the French tennis pro has received support from world number one Iga Swiatek, and Madison Keys, “who both thanked her for speaking up.” American tennis pro Jessica Pegula said, however, that: “The constant death threats and family threats are normal now, win or lose.”