Ons Jabeur takes a stand against online abuse
Ons Jabeur speaks out against cyberbullying and calls for action after the Caroline Garcia case
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Online abuse has become a burning issue in tennis, with a growing number of players speaking out against this form of violence, which they face more and more on social media. The latest example is that of Caroline Garcia. After her early exit from the 2024 US Open, the Frenchwoman revealed on social media the wave of insults she had received, often from sports bettors angry at having lost money.
Voicing her concern for young players who have to cope with these mass attacks, Caroline Garcia shared some of the violent messages she received, some of which went as far as wishing her dead. She also criticised the tennis industry for its ongoing partnerships with betting companies, which, in her view, fuel this toxic behaviour.
“Fighting this tragedy”
Affected by the phenomenon and committed to tackling it, Ons Jabeur, in solidarity with Garcia, applauded her courage in speaking out, stressing the need for the tennis community to stick together in the face of this growing hatred. “Thank you Caro for speaking out. It's becoming frustrating for most of us when we lose a match. We all need to stick together to fight this tragedy. Total support,” the Tunisian posted in reply, having withdrawn from the US Open with a shoulder injury.
As well as Ons Jabeur, other players, such as Iga Swiatek and Paula Badosa, have also voiced their support, calling for better regulation of social media platforms and a collective awareness of the problem. This latest case highlights an increasingly widespread problem in sport, where the pressure of expectations and online betting exacerbate harassment, underlining the need for urgent measures to protect athletes.
https://twitter.com/Ons_Jabeur/status/1828889630172647585