Current:Home > MyUS Open: Cyberbullying remains a problem in tennis. One player called it out on social media -Edge Finance Strategies
US Open: Cyberbullying remains a problem in tennis. One player called it out on social media
View
Date:2025-04-13 14:27:05
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.”
___
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
veryGood! (56)
Related
- Mets have visions of grandeur, and a dynasty, with Juan Soto as major catalyst
- Krispy Kreme's 'Day of the Dozens' offers 12 free doughnuts with purchase: When to get the deal
- Dick Van Dyke credits neighbors with saving his life and home during Malibu fire
- The best tech gifts, gadgets for the holidays featured on 'The Today Show'
- The Daily Money: Spending more on holiday travel?
- Donald Trump is returning to the world stage. So is his trolling
- US inflation likely edged up last month, though not enough to deter another Fed rate cut
- Here's how to make the perfect oven
- Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
- Man who jumped a desk to attack a Nevada judge in the courtroom is sentenced
Ranking
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
- How to watch the 'Blue Bloods' Season 14 finale: Final episode premiere date, cast
- Not sure what to write in your holiday card? These tips can help: Video tutorial
- Wisconsin kayaker who faked his death and fled to Eastern Europe is in custody, online records show
- Taylor Swift Eras Archive site launches on singer's 35th birthday. What is it?
- KISS OF LIFE reflects on sold
- Philippines' VP Sara Duterte a no
- Deadly chocolate factory caused by faulty gas fitting, safety board finds
Recommendation
What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
Federal appeals court takes step closer to banning TikTok in US: Here's what to know
The Daily Money: Now, that's a lot of zeroes!
'Unimaginable situation': South Korea endures fallout from martial law effort
$73.5M beach replenishment project starts in January at Jersey Shore
Trump says Kari Lake will lead Voice of America. He attacked it during his first term
TikTok asks Supreme Court to review ban legislation, content creators react: What to know
The Daily Money: Now, that's a lot of zeroes!