Tennis Star Caroline Garcia Highlights Online Abuse and Betting Issues After US Open Exit
9 Sources
9 Sources
[1]
Tennis-Garcia says 'unhealthy betting' behind online abuse after US Open exit
Garcia shared snippets of the abuse directed at her and her family on social media. The Frenchwoman also took aim at social media platforms for not doing enough to filter abuse. "Social media platforms don't prevent it, despite AI being in a very advanced position. Tournaments and the sport keeps partnering with betting companies, which keep attracting new people to unhealthy betting," she wrote on Instagram. "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. "But maybe we should not promote them. Also, if someone decided to say these things to me in public, he could have legal issues. So why online we are free to do anything? Shouldn't we reconsider anonymity online?" Garcia said the messages hurt players, especially after a tough loss when they were "emotionally destroyed", and she was worried about how younger players are affected. Garcia received support from fellow players including world number one Iga Swiatek and Madison Keys, who thanked her for speaking up. American Jessica Pegula said: "The constant death threats and family threats are normal now, win or lose." Defending U.S. Open champion Coco Gauff said there were times she would spend 30 minutes blocking abusive accounts on her social media but people would make new ones. "If you are already struggling with your own mental issues and on top of that you have people digging deeper, it is tough," she told reporters. "You could be having a good day and then somebody will literally tell you, oh, go kill yourself. You're, like, OK, thanks. "Hopefully the AI stuff can help in the future." (Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru and Ian Ransom in Melbourne; editing by Clare Fallon and Peter Rutherford)
[2]
Tennis-Garcia blames 'unhealthy betting' for online abuse after U.S. Open exit
Garcia shared snippets of some of the abuse she had received on social media where not only was the 30-year-old targeted but also her family. The Frenchwoman also took aim at social media platforms for not doing enough to filter abuse while allowing anonymous users to go unchecked. "Social media platforms don't prevent it, despite AI being in a very advanced position. Tournaments and the sport keeps partnering with betting companies, which keep attracting new people to unhealthy betting," Garcia wrote on Instagram. "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. "But maybe we should not promote them. Also, if someone decided to say these things to me in public, he could have legal issues. So why online we are free to do anything? Shouldn't we reconsider anonymity online?" Garcia said the messages hurt players, especially after a tough loss when they were already "emotionally destroyed", while also questioning how younger players would react to such abuse. "I'm just a normal girl working really hard and trying my best, I have tools and have done work to protect myself from this hate. But still, this is not okay," Garcia added. "It really worries me when I think about younger players coming up, that have to go through this." Garcia received support from fellow players such as world number one Iga Swiatek and Madison Keys, who both thanked her for speaking up. American Jessica Pegula said: "The constant death threats and family threats are normal now, win or lose." (Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; editing by Clare Fallon)
[3]
Garcia Decries Online Abuse After US Open Defeat, Cites 'Unhealthy Betting'
Former WTA world number four Caroline Garcia of France shared some of the disparaging messages she has received in the wake of recent defeats on Wednesday and cited "unhealthy betting" as a driver of social media abuse of players. Garcia, an 11-time WTA champion who reached the US Open semi-finals in 2022, fell to 92nd-ranked Renata Zarazua in the first round at Flushing Meadows on Tuesday. On Wednesday morning in a lengthy post on X (formerly Twitter) she shared "just a few" of the messages she has received after defeats, including one telling her to shoot herself and another saying "I hope your mom dies soon". At the age of 30, she said, she's done enough work to get past the hurtful messages. "I have tools and have done work to protect myself from this hate. But still, this is not OK," Garcia wrote. "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." Garcia called out the practice of the sport and tournaments partnering with betting companies, wondering if it contributed to a rise in such abuse. "Tournaments and the sport keeps partnering with betting companies, which keep attracting new people to unhealthy betting," Garcia said. "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." She continued, "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. Also, if someone decided to say this things to me in public, he could have legal issues. So why online we are free to do anything? Shouldn't we reconsider anonymity online?" Officials in a range of sports, including tennis, have tried to shield players from abusive messages. The French Open partnered in 2022 with a company that uses artificial intelligence to filter players' social media accounts. Wimbledon launched a social media monitoring service to protect players from online abuse and threats. "Many before me have raised the subject," Garcia said. "And still, no progress has been made." American Jessica Pegula, ranked sixth in the world, was among players posting in support of Garcia. "The constant death threats and family threats are normal now," Pegula wrote. "Win or lose." American Frances Tiafoe said after his second round victory on Wednesday that social media attacks are par for the course. "People are saying outlandish stuff," he said. "You've got guys working all their life trying to compete at the highest level. You don't know people's circumstances, what they're going through, how this affects people."
[4]
Garcia decries online abuse after US Open defeat, cites 'unhealthy betting'
New York (AFP) - Former WTA world number four Caroline Garcia of France shared some of the disparaging messages she has received in the wake of recent defeats on Wednesday and cited "unhealthy betting" as a driver of social media abuse of players. Garcia, an 11-time WTA champion who reached the US Open semi-finals in 2022, fell to 92nd-ranked Renata Zarazua in the first round at Flushing Meadows on Tuesday. On Wednesday morning in a lengthy post on X (formerly Twitter) she shared "just a few" of the messages she has received after defeats, including one telling her to shoot herself and another saying "I hope your mom dies soon". At the age of 30, she said, she's done enough work to get past the hurtful messages. "I have tools and have done work to protect myself from this hate. But still, this is not OK," Garcia wrote. "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." Garcia called out the practice of the sport and tournaments partnering with betting companies, wondering if it contributed to a rise in such abuse. "Tournaments and the sport keeps partnering with betting companies, which keep attracting new people to unhealthy betting," Garcia said. "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." She continued, "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. Also, if someone decided to say this things to me in public, he could have legal issues. So why online we are free to do anything? Shouldn't we reconsider anonymity online?" Officials in a range of sports, including tennis, have tried to shield players from abusive messages. The French Open partnered in 2022 with a company that uses artificial intelligence to filter players' social media accounts. Wimbledon launched a social media monitoring service to protect players from online abuse and threats. "Many before me have raised the subject," Garcia said. "And still, no progress has been made." American Jessica Pegula, ranked sixth in the world, was among players posting in support of Garcia. "The constant death threats and family threats are normal now," Pegula wrote. "Win or lose." American Frances Tiafoe said after his second round victory on Wednesday that social media attacks are par for the course. "People are saying outlandish stuff," he said. "You've got guys working all their life trying to compete at the highest level. You don't know people's circumstances, what they're going through, how this affects people."
[5]
US Open: Cyberbullying remains a problem in tennis. One player called it out on social media
NEW YORK -- Caroline Garcia, a U.S. Open semifinalist two years ago, drew attention Wednesday to the ever-present problem of cyberbullying in tennis, particularly by people who bet on matches, after her first-round loss at the Grand Slam tournament. "Maybe you can think that it doesn't hurt us. But it does. We are humans," Garcia wrote on social media. "And sometimes, when we receive (these) 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." Garcia, a 30-year-old from France who has been ranked as high as No. 4, was seeded 28th at Flushing Meadows but was eliminated by Renata Zarazúa 6-1, 6-4 on Tuesday. Zarazúa is ranked 92nd and is making her U.S. Open debut. Garcia offered examples of "just a few" of the hundreds of messages she said she was sent after losing recent matches, including one telling her she should consider suicide and another that read, "I hope your mom dies soon." "And now, being 30 years old, although they still hurt, because at the end of the day, I'm just a normal girl working really hard and trying my best, I have tools and have done work to protect myself from this hate. But still, this is not OK," Garcia wrote. "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." As other players have mentioned in the past, she talked about the issue of being attacked verbally by gamblers upset about losing money. "Tournaments and the sport keeps partnering with betting companies, which keep attracting new people to unhealthy betting," Garcia said. "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." This sort of harassment via social media is nothing new, of course, and it's not new to tennis. Players have called it out in the past, and Grand Slam tournaments have been trying to help prevent messages from reaching the athletes. The French Open partnered in 2022 with a company that uses artificial intelligence to filter players' social media accounts, and the groups that run the U.S. Open, Wimbledon, the women's tour and the lower-level ITF Tour announced in December they were starting a service to monitor for "abusive and threatening content" on X, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and TikTok. "Many before me have raised the subject," Garcia said. "And still, no progress has been made. Social media platforms don't prevent it, despite AI being in a very advanced position." She closed her message by addressing anyone reading it, suggesting that "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. Be kind. Give love. Enjoy life."
[6]
US Open: Cyberbullying remains a problem in tennis. One player called it out on social media
NEW YORK (AP) -- Caroline Garcia, a U.S. Open semifinalist two years ago, drew attention Wednesday to the ever-present problem of cyberbullying in tennis, particularly by people who bet on matches, after her first-round loss at the Grand Slam tournament. "Maybe you can think that it doesn't hurt us. But it does. We are humans," Garcia wrote on social media. "And sometimes, when we receive (these) 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." Garcia, a 30-year-old from France who has been ranked as high as No. 4, was seeded 28th at Flushing Meadows but was eliminated by Renata Zarazúa 6-1, 6-4 on Tuesday. Zarazúa is ranked 92nd and is making her U.S. Open debut. Garcia offered examples of "just a few" of the hundreds of messages she said she was sent after losing recent matches, including one telling her she should consider suicide and another that read, "I hope your mom dies soon." "And now, being 30 years old, although they still hurt, because at the end of the day, I'm just a normal girl working really hard and trying my best, I have tools and have done work to protect myself from this hate. But still, this is not OK," Garcia wrote. "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." As other players have mentioned in the past, she talked about the issue of being attacked verbally by gamblers upset about losing money. "Tournaments and the sport keeps partnering with betting companies, which keep attracting new people to unhealthy betting," Garcia said. "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." This sort of harassment via social media is nothing new, of course, and it's not new to tennis. Players have called it out in the past, and Grand Slam tournaments have been trying to help prevent messages from reaching the athletes. The French Open partnered in 2022 with a company that uses artificial intelligence to filter players' social media accounts, and the groups that run the U.S. Open, Wimbledon, the women's tour and the lower-level ITF Tour announced in December they were starting a service to monitor for "abusive and threatening content" on X, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and TikTok. "Many before me have raised the subject," Garcia said. "And still, no progress has been made. Social media platforms don't prevent it, despite AI being in a very advanced position." She closed her message by addressing anyone reading it, suggesting that "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. Be kind. Give love. Enjoy life."
[7]
US Open: Cyberbullying remains a problem in tennis. One player called it out on social media
NEW YORK (AP) -- Caroline Garcia, a U.S. Open semifinalist two years ago, drew attention Wednesday to the ever-present problem of cyberbullying in tennis, particularly by people who bet on matches, after her first-round loss at the Grand Slam tournament. "Maybe you can think that it doesn't hurt us. But it does. We are humans," Garcia wrote on social media. "And sometimes, when we receive (these) 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." Garcia, a 30-year-old from France who has been ranked as high as No. 4, was seeded 28th at Flushing Meadows but was eliminated by Renata Zarazúa 6-1, 6-4 on Tuesday. Zarazúa is ranked 92nd and is making her U.S. Open debut. Garcia offered examples of "just a few" of the hundreds of messages she said she was sent after losing recent matches, including one telling her she should consider suicide and another that read, "I hope your mom dies soon." "And now, being 30 years old, although they still hurt, because at the end of the day, I'm just a normal girl working really hard and trying my best, I have tools and have done work to protect myself from this hate. But still, this is not OK," Garcia wrote. "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." As other players have mentioned in the past, she talked about the issue of being attacked verbally by gamblers upset about losing money. "Tournaments and the sport keeps partnering with betting companies, which keep attracting new people to unhealthy betting," Garcia said. "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." This sort of harassment via social media is nothing new, of course, and it's not new to tennis. Players have called it out in the past, and Grand Slam tournaments have been trying to help prevent messages from reaching the athletes. The French Open partnered in 2022 with a company that uses artificial intelligence to filter players' social media accounts, and the groups that run the U.S. Open, Wimbledon, the women's tour and the lower-level ITF Tour announced in December they were starting a service to monitor for "abusive and threatening content" on X, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and TikTok. "Many before me have raised the subject," Garcia said. "And still, no progress has been made. Social media platforms don't prevent it, despite AI being in a very advanced position." She closed her message by addressing anyone reading it, suggesting that "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. Be kind. Give love. Enjoy life."
[8]
US Open: Cyberbullying Remains a Problem in Tennis. One Player Called It Out on Social Media
NEW YORK (AP) -- Caroline Garcia, a U.S. Open semifinalist two years ago, drew attention Wednesday to the ever-present problem of cyberbullying in tennis, particularly by people who bet on matches, after her first-round loss at the Grand Slam tournament. "Maybe you can think that it doesn't hurt us. But it does. We are humans," Garcia wrote on social media. "And sometimes, when we receive (these) 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." Garcia, a 30-year-old from France who has been ranked as high as No. 4, was seeded 28th at Flushing Meadows but was eliminated by Renata Zarazúa 6-1, 6-4 on Tuesday. Zarazúa is ranked 92nd and is making her U.S. Open debut. Garcia offered examples of "just a few" of the hundreds of messages she said she was sent after losing recent matches, including one telling her she should consider suicide and another that read, "I hope your mom dies soon." "And now, being 30 years old, although they still hurt, because at the end of the day, I'm just a normal girl working really hard and trying my best, I have tools and have done work to protect myself from this hate. But still, this is not OK," Garcia wrote. "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." As other players have mentioned in the past, she talked about the issue of being attacked verbally by gamblers upset about losing money. "Tournaments and the sport keeps partnering with betting companies, which keep attracting new people to unhealthy betting," Garcia said. "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." This sort of harassment via social media is nothing new, of course, and it's not new to tennis. Players have called it out in the past, and Grand Slam tournaments have been trying to help prevent messages from reaching the athletes. The French Open partnered in 2022 with a company that uses artificial intelligence to filter players' social media accounts, and the groups that run the U.S. Open, Wimbledon, the women's tour and the lower-level ITF Tour announced in December they were starting a service to monitor for "abusive and threatening content" on X, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and TikTok. "Many before me have raised the subject," Garcia said. "And still, no progress has been made. Social media platforms don't prevent it, despite AI being in a very advanced position." She closed her message by addressing anyone reading it, suggesting that "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. Be kind. Give love. Enjoy life." Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
[9]
Caroline Garcia calls out promotion of betting companies amid online abuse | Tennis News - Times of India
NEW DELHI: Caroline Garcia, a French tennis player, revealed that she was subjected to online abuse following her first-round defeat at the U.S. Open. Garcia, who reached the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows last year, lost in straight sets to unseeded Mexican player Renata Zarazua on Tuesday. The Frenchwoman shared examples of the abusive messages targeting her and her family on social media platforms. "Social media platforms don't prevent it, despite AI being in a very advanced position. Tournaments and the sport keeps partnering with betting companies, which keep attracting new people to unhealthy betting," she wrote on Instagram. "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 quoted by Reuters. "But maybe we should not promote them. Also, if someone decided to say these things to me in public, he could have legal issues. So why online we are free to do anything? Shouldn't we reconsider anonymity online?" Garcia expressed concern about the impact of such messages on players, particularly younger athletes, who may be "emotionally destroyed" after a difficult loss. Her stance received support from fellow tennis players, including world number one Iga Swiatek and Madison Keys, who appreciated her for speaking out on the issue. American Jessica Pegula said: "The constant death threats and family threats are normal now, win or lose." Defending U.S. Open champion Coco Gauff said there were times she would spend 30 minutes blocking abusive accounts on her social media but people would make new ones. "If you are already struggling with your own mental issues and on top of that you have people digging deeper, it is tough," she told reporters. "You could be having a good day and then somebody will literally tell you, oh, go kill yourself. You're, like, OK, thanks. "Hopefully the AI stuff can help in the future." The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.
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French tennis player Caroline Garcia speaks out about receiving online abuse following her first-round loss at the US Open, attributing the harassment to unhealthy betting practices in tennis.
Garcia's US Open Defeat and Subsequent Online Abuse
French tennis player Caroline Garcia faced a wave of online abuse following her first-round exit from the US Open. The 17th-seeded player lost to Chinese qualifier Yafan Wang in a surprising upset, which led to a barrage of negative comments on her social media accounts
1
.The Role of Betting in Online Harassment
Garcia pointed to "unhealthy betting" as the primary cause of the online abuse she received. The 29-year-old athlete suggested that many of the abusive messages came from individuals who had placed bets on her match and lost money due to her unexpected defeat
2
.Impact on Athletes' Mental Health
The incident highlights the ongoing issue of cyberbullying in professional tennis and its potential impact on players' mental health. Garcia expressed her frustration with the situation, stating that while she tries not to let the comments affect her, the constant negativity can be challenging to ignore completely
3
.Tennis Authorities' Response
The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) has acknowledged the problem and is working to address it. The organization offers players access to online abuse reporting tools and mental health resources. However, the persistence of such incidents suggests that more comprehensive measures may be necessary
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.Related Stories
Broader Context of Cyberbullying in Tennis
Garcia's experience is not isolated. Other tennis players, including Sloane Stephens and Taylor Townsend, have also reported receiving abusive messages following matches. The United States Tennis Association (USTA) has implemented measures to combat online harassment, including the use of artificial intelligence to identify and block abusive comments on social media platforms
5
.The Need for Systemic Change
While individual players and tennis organizations are taking steps to address the issue, Garcia's case underscores the need for a more systemic approach to combat online abuse in sports. This may involve stricter regulations on sports betting, improved moderation of social media platforms, and continued efforts to raise awareness about the impact of cyberbullying on athletes.
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|Garcia Decries Online Abuse After US Open Defeat, Cites 'Unhealthy Betting'
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