Tennis player is inundated with hateful letters following financial collapse
Caroline Garcia, a 30-year-old French tennis player, spoke out about the harmful online messages she received after losing in the first round of the US Open. She shared that "hundreds" of such messages had left her feeling emotionally damaged. Even at her age, she has the means to protect herself, but she worries about young players who might not have such resources. Garcia lost to Mexican Renata Zarazúa in the opening round of the tournament in New York.
Garcia's social media posts included messages wishing harm upon her mother and containing vicious insults. She wrote, "We are human beings and sometimes, the emotional impact of these messages can be devastating after a tough loss." She criticized the lack of progress despite numerous instances of such hateful comments.
Kudos for Lys
Before Garcia, German player Eva Lys had brought attention to this issue. Lys shared the hateful comments she received on social media following her semi-final loss at the Cluj-Napoca tournament in late 2023. The 21-year-old posted screenshots of offensive and degrading comments on Instagram, saying "Insults are never okay." After she made these comments public, Lys received support from her fans.
Garcia pointed out that despite the existence of AI, social media platforms are not effectively blocking these hate messages. She also criticized the endorsement deals with betting companies that can encourage harmful gambling behaviors. For her Instagram post, Garcia received support from both current and former tennis players.
Garcia mentioned German player Eva Lys, who similarly experienced hateful comments on social media after her semifinal loss at the Cluj-Napoca tournament. Tennis matches can often lead to passionate discussions among fans, but it's essential to maintain respect and avoid sending harmful messages to players.
