Caroline Garcia Raises Awareness on Cyberbullying in Tennis

Caroline Garcia, a former U.S. Open semifinalist, has highlighted the pervasive issue of cyberbullying in tennis, particularly from bettors, following her first-round loss at the tournament. After her defeat to Renata Zarazúa, Garcia shared distressing examples of abusive messages she received, including threats and hateful comments, emphasizing that such attacks deeply affect players' mental health. She expressed concern for younger players who may be more vulnerable to such harassment and criticized the sport's ongoing partnerships with betting companies, which she believes contribute to this toxic environment. Fellow players, including world No. 1 Iga Swiatek and Jess Pegula, have echoed Garcia's sentiments about the normalization of threats and abuse in the sport. Garcia's call for change underscores a broader issue within professional tennis regarding mental health and the impact of social media abuse on athletes.