Caroline Garcia decries social media abuse after first-round loss at US Open, blames 'unhealthy gambling'

Caroline Garcia spoke out Wednesday about abusive online messages she has received after losing to unseeded Renata Zarazua, blaming "unhealthy gambling" among other reasons why she and other players are targeted by angry Internet users in a post on her Instagram account. Garcia also criticized social media platforms, saying that they do not do enough to filter abusive messages.

In articulating her criticism of online behavior fueled by degenerate gambling, Garcia likened the pervasive nature of the gambling industry and sports organizations' promotion of them to previous eras where tobacco companies were major advertisers at sporting events.

"Tournaments and the sport keeps partnering with betting companies, which keep attracting new people to unhealthy betting," she wrote. "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.

"Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying they should be banned. But maybe we should not promote them."

Garcia also criticized online anonymity, mentioning that some of the abusive messages sent to her and her family could put people in legal trouble had they said them publicly. She has received support for speaking up about her experience, including from World No. 1 Iga Swiatek as well as Madison Keys.

Despite being a semifinalist at the U.S. Open just two years ago, Garcia lost 6-1 6-4 on Tuesday to Zarazua, who had only once before reached the second round of a Grand Slam.