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New York Post
Caroline Garcia shares vile message from US Open critics after loss: ‘This is not ok’
By Jaclyn Hendricks,
7 hours ago
French tennis player Carolina Garcia has issued a heartfelt plea about being mindful of what’s said to one another on social media after she received an influx of hateful messages.
One day after her first-round loss to Mexico’s Renata Zarazua at the U.S. Open on Tuesday, Garcia uploaded a handful of the vile notes sent from trolls, including one that read: “I hope with everything in my heart that something bad will happen to you.”
“These are some of the messages I received lately after losing 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,” Garcia wrote Wednesday on her social media platforms.
Carolina Garcia of France during her first-round U.S. Open match against Renata Zarazua of Mexico on Aug. 27, 2024. AP
“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.”
Garcia, who has been candid in the past about personal struggles, particularly her battle with bulimia, highlighted some of the abhorrent messages in a slideshow, one of which said she should “consider” taking her life.
“A clown belongs in the circus,” a message read while another stated, “You are a piece of s–t.”
She lost the match 6-1, 6-4. Getty Images Caroline Garcia has been open about past personal struggles. REUTERS
“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,” Garcia wrote.
Garcia also called attention to social media platforms and betting companies in her post.
“Tournaments and the sport keeps partnering with betting companies, which keep attracting new people to unhealthy betting. 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 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?” the former world No. 4 wrote.
Garcia signed off with, “Be kind. Give love. Enjoy life.”
Caroline Garcia reached the semifinal of the U.S. Open in 2022. Annie Wermiel for the NY Post
Currently ranked 30th in the world, Garcia is two years removed from a semifinal appearance at the U.S. Open.
She won the Tour Finals in 2022.
Garcia will compete in women’s doubles on Wednesday with American Danielle Collins, with the pair squaring off against Americans Anna Sinclair Rogers and Alana Smith.
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