France’s highest-seeded woman at the 2024 US Open posted examples of hateful comments on social media and called on tennis tournaments to end their gambling sponsorships.
Caroline Garcia began play at the US Open as the No. 27 seed. She fell 6-1, 6-4 to world No. 92 Renata Zarazua of Mexico in a 78-minute first-round match on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, she shared “just a few” of the comments she encountered on social media. She thinks the comments came from people who bet on her match and lost their stake.
- “You should consider [gun emoji] yourself.”
- “A clown belongs in a circus.”
- “I hope your mom dies soon.”
- “You are a piece of s–t.”
“There’s hundreds,” Garcia wrote in a lengthy post on X.
The world No. 30 player said she has taken steps to limit her exposure to derogatory posts, “but still this is not OK,” she wrote.
“It really worries me when I think about younger players coming up that have to go through this,” she continued. “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.”
Players Question Gambling Sponsorships
Garcia then shifted her attention to the sport itself. None of tennis’ Grand Slams list a betting company among its official partners, but smaller tournaments often forge gambling sponsorships to cover expenses — including prize money for the players.
The US Open’s broadcast partner, ESPN, also has a $1.5 billion naming rights and vesting agreement with Penn Entertainment for the ESPN Bet app. For example, an episode of “ESPN BET Live” airs Thursday, Aug. 29, on ESPNews. The wagering advice show signs off as coverage of the US Open night session begins on ESPN2.
“Tournaments and the sport keep partnering with betting companies, which keep attracting new people to unhealthy betting,” Garcia wrote. ” The days of cigarette brands sponsoring sports are long gone. Yet, here we are promoting betting companies.”
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.”
Garcia ended her post with, “Be kind. Give love. Enjoy life,” — Caro.
Reporters at the US Open asked men’s No. 20 seed Frances Tiafoe of the US about Garcia’s post. “People are saying outlandish … stuff. It’s just wild,” he told them.
No. 3 women’s seed and fellow American Coco Gauff said players “hear a lot of nasty things, and people talk about your appearance, your family’s appearance.”
“If you are already struggling with your own mental issues and, on top of that, you have people digging deeper, it is tough,” she said.
Take a Time Out, Don’t Lash Out
Betting should be a form of entertainment. People who harass an athlete online should examine whether they have a healthy approach to the pastime. The National Council on Problem Gambling encourages bettors to consider the following responsible gaming tips.
- Know the game — understand the odds and house edge.
- Set a budget in advance. Get help from a friend to stay within your spending limit.
- Never borrow money, and don’t gamble money you can’t afford to lose.
- Set a timer on your phone to track your time spent betting. When gambling is no longer fun, take a break.
- Expect to lose, and don’t chase losses. Remember, you’re playing to have a good time.
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