'We are humans' - Garcia calls out 'damaging' online abuse

France's Caroline Garcia has called retired nan "damaging" maltreatment tennis players person connected societal media erstwhile they suffer matches.

The world number 30 suffered a astonishment conclusion by Mexico's Renata Zarazua successful nan first information of nan US Open connected Tuesday.

In a station connected X, external and Instagram, Garcia included images of 4 abusive messages of "hundreds" she has received precocious pursuing defeats.

One included a threat to her family, while different said "a comedian belongs successful nan circus".

"Maybe you tin deliberation that it doesn’t wounded us," wrote Garcia. "But it does. We are humans.

"And sometimes, erstwhile we person these messages we are already emotionally destroyed aft a reliable loss. And they tin beryllium damaging.

"Many earlier maine person raised nan subject. And still, nary advancement has been made."

While Garcia felt she had "done activity to protect myself from this hate", she was concerned astir nan younger players who person to woody pinch akin comments online.

Tennis is simply a adjacent year-round sport, pinch nan magnitude of matches making it charismatic to gamblers and Garcia intimated that tournaments partnering pinch betting companies added to nan problems faced by players.

"I cognize those who constitute these unspeakable messages won't alteration because of this," she added.

"But possibly you, adjacent clip you spot a station from an athlete, vocalist aliases immoderate different person, that has grounded aliases lost, you will retrieve that she aliases he is besides a quality being, trying his/her champion successful life.

"Social media platforms don't forestall it, contempt AI being successful a very precocious position."

Britain's Katie Boulter was 1 of a number of players to repost Garcia's message, while women's world number 1 Iga Swiatek responded, "Thank you for this voice".

US players Madison Keys and Jessica Peluga besides commented pinch nan second writing: "Yep. The changeless decease threats and family threats are normal now. Win aliases lose."

As Garcia alluded to, online maltreatment has been highlighted by a number of players successful caller years pinch erstwhile world number 8 Daria Kasatkina saying it was "completely retired of control" past year.

French Open organisers person moreover offered players artificial intelligence-protection from societal media maltreatment astatine nan tourney for nan past 2 years.

In 2023, a WTA spokesperson said nan governing assemblage useful pinch a consequence appraisal and guidance institution to unopen down societal media accounts erstwhile warranted.

"Player information is nan WTA's number 1 priority," added nan spokesperson.

"The WTA has been moving for respective years to amended and counsel players connected this issue, arsenic nan number of players affected continues to summation and it's an important rumor we return very seriously."