Khachanov & Garcia Speak Out Against Online Abuse After Their US Open Losses
ATPThursday, 29 August 2024 at 13:48
Karen Khachanov and Caroline Garcia were outraged by the treatment they got from some of the fans following their losses at the 2024 US Open.
Tennis players are athletes, competing weekly on the tennis courts, trying to reach the highest ranks on the ATP or WTA Tour and win the biggest titles. Apart from that, they are also human beings who have their own lives.
Those lives include things they like to do in their free time, their family, and their own self away from the tennis courts. And it seems that it's this distinction between private and professional life that many tennis fans cannot understand and respect.
Unfortunately, fan abuse is something that has been present in the sport for decades, and in recent years, with the rise of online gambling, it has only grown bigger, given the accessibility to various sports bets, and as a result, lost money of bettors.
It's mostly those that send athletes inappropriate messages following their losses, and a few cases of that happened also recently at the 2024 US Open.
Caroline Garcia didn't have a good tournament, losing already in the first round to Renata Zarazua 1-6, 4-6. However, it wasn't the loss, but the messages that she received after the match that prompted her to post on social media, calling out the disgusting act by some of the fans.
"These are some of the messages I received lately after loosing 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."
"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."
For the French player, it was not only about calling out the people who sent her the messages, but also people in charge, who could help by removing such comments.
On top of that, she mentioned also betting companies, which frequently sponsor tennis tournaments, as something that contributes to the hate, as it's mostly angry people who lost their money that write such messages.
"Many before me have raised the subject. And still, no progress has been made. Social media platforms don’t prevent it, despite AI being in a very advanced position. 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."
Garcia also highlighted legal implications of such messages. According to the French player, words written on the internet are treated differently than those said in person, which, in her opinion, is not correct.
"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? 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."
Similarly to Garcia, Karen Khachanov also lost in the first round of the 2024 US Open. The Russian was bested in the longest-ever tennis match played at Flushing Meadows, losing to Daniel Evans 7-6(6), 6-7(2), 6-7(4), 6-4, 4-6, after holding a 4-0 and 40-15 lead in the fifth set.
It was a devastating loss for Khachanov, especially after spending five hours and 36 minutes on the tennis court, but he, too, found some really inappropriate messages in his inbox following the loss and decided to speak out.
"Yesterday I had one of the longest toughest and emotional matches in my career. I woke up today with the feeling that I was beaten up with a bat. I tried not to show it at all but after 5 and a half hours in the fifth set I had cramps all over my body."
"I am not trying to say that I lost because of this. No. It’s not an excuse. We had the same conditions with my opponent and it was a mental fight in the end. I am extremely devastated and disappointed that I could not get the victory in the end."
The Russian player wanted to remind everyone that such losses are not painful only for the people who placed a bet on the athlete, but also for the athletes themselves, as they lost not only possible step-up in prize money, but also the match, a chance at a trophy, and maybe a bit of their self-belief.
"But I want to stress that after matches like this, painful losses like this, it is extremely difficult to cope with this mentally. Professional sport is often associated with mental strength, but not many people tell you about this mental fatigue, burnout, self-criticism, and a feeling of desperation."
"Please, I am asking you to be respectful. Don’t strike a man when he is down. I may be down, but definitely not out! I am sure I can get over this, do the right work, and get back on court better than before. I will be grateful for all the support that I get. Let’s be kind to one another. With less hate and more love, the world will become a better place."
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