Caroline Garcia from France has addressed the “damaging” comments tennis players receive on social media after losing matches.
In a social media post, the athlete shared several photos containing abusive comments that she has received following her defeats. Her caption stated: “This are some of the messages I received lately after loosing some matches. Just a few of them. There’s hundreds. 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.”
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The athlete added: “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.”
Tennis is a near year-round sport, with the number of matches making it attractive to gamblers. Garcia intimated that tournaments partnering with betting companies added to the problems faced by players.
“Social media platforms don’t prevent it, despite AI being in a very advanced position. Tournaments and the sport keep partnering with betting companies, which keep attracting new people to unhealthy betting,” she remarked.
“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?” she added.
Garcia concluded her post by declaring: “ 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… Be kind. Give love. Enjoy life ❤️”
Britain’s Katie Boulter reposted Garcia’s message, and women’s world number one Iga Swiatek responded: “Thank you for this voice.”
Source: BBC