Caroline Garcia has spoken out about the ugly social media abuse she has received, saying it is “taking a toll” on players.
The French player, who lost in the first round of the US Open on Tuesday, shared the abuse she has received in recent weeks, including one user who urged her to commit suicide and another who said he wished her mother was dead.
“It really worries me when I think of young athletes coming up and having to go through this,” she wrote on Instagram and X.
“These are people who have not yet fully developed as human beings, and they are the ones who can actually be affected by this hatred.
“You may think it doesn't hurt us, but it does. We're human. And sometimes, when we receive this message, we're emotionally devastated after a difficult loss.
“And that can be harmful. Many people have raised this topic before me. And there has been no progress.
“I know that the people who write these horrible messages won't change because of this.
“But next time you see a post about an athlete, singer or anyone else failing or losing, remember that they are human too and are doing their best in life.”
“People are saying crazy things… It’s just crazy,” said Frances Tiafoe, a semifinalist in New York in 2022.
“I try not to look at the comments,” said 2019 U.S. Open champion Bianca Andreescu, who said she would ask her publicist to scroll through and flag any positive comments.
“There will always be negative comments, I learned that the hard way.”
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