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Caroline Garcia has spoken out about the vile social media abuse she has received and said it is “damaging” players.
The Frenchwoman, who lost in the first round of the US Open on Tuesday, shared some of the abuse she has been sent in recent weeks, which included a user telling her to kill herself and another saying they wished her mum was dead.
She posted on Instagram and X, saying: “It really worries me when I think about younger players coming up, that have to go through this.
“People that still haven’t yet developed fully as a human and that really might be affected by this hate.
“Maybe you can think that it doesn’t hurt us. But it does. We are humans. And sometimes, when we receive this messages we are already emotionally destroyed after a tough loss.
“And they can be damaging. Many before me have raised the subject. And still, no progress has been made.
“I know those who write these terrible messages won’t change because of this.
“But maybe you, next time you see a post from an athlete, singer or any other person, that has failed or lost, you will remember that she or he is also a human being, trying his best in life.”
Garcia suggested a lot of the abuse comes after people have lost bets because of players’ results and urged the governing bodies to reconsider its relationship with betting companies.
She added: “Tournaments and the sport keeps partnering with betting companies, which keep attracting new people to unhealthy betting.
“The days of cigarette brands sponsoring sports are long gone. Yet, here we are promoting betting companies, which actively destroy the life of some people.
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying they should be banned as people are free to do whatever they want with their money. But maybe we should not promote them.”
