Caroline Garcia Highlights Cyberbullying in Tennis

Caroline Garcia, a former US Open semifinalist, has publicly addressed the severe issue of cyberbullying in tennis, particularly from gamblers upset over match outcomes. Following her first-round loss to Renata Zarazúa at the US Open 2024, Garcia shared numerous hateful messages she received, including threats and wishes of harm to her family. She criticized the ongoing partnerships between tennis tournaments and betting companies, suggesting that these relationships contribute to the rise of online abuse. Fellow player Frances Tiafoe advised athletes to disregard such negativity and focus on their performance. Garcia emphasized the potential emotional harm to younger players and called for better regulation of social media platforms to prevent such abuse. Despite her efforts to cope with the hate, Garcia highlighted that the issue remains unresolved and needs urgent attention.