PARIS (AP) — Retired French tennis player Caroline Garcia has made headlines by turning down a substantial $270,000 sponsorship deal from a betting company for her podcast, stating that she prioritizes her values over financial gain. This decision comes shortly after her retirement from professional tennis earlier this year.
Garcia, who achieved a career-high ranking of No. 4 during her career, has remained involved in the sport through her podcast titled Tennis Insider Club, which she co-hosts with her husband Borja Duran. In a recent post on her social media platforms, the 32-year-old expressed the difficulty of her decision, saying, “It wasn’t an easy ‘no,’ especially right after retiring from tennis.”
The former tennis star emphasized her and Duran’s desire to create a safe platform for players to share their feelings openly without the pressures often associated with the sport. Garcia's rejection of the sponsorship deal reflects her commitment to the integrity of the conversations happening on her podcast.
Though Garcia did not disclose the name of the company that offered the deal, her decision comes in light of the growing concern surrounding betting in sports. Last year at the U.S. Open, she highlighted the issue of cyberbullying connected to betting behaviors, particularly after her first-round loss. Garcia stated that players often face immense pressure and abuse from individuals who gamble on matches.
In her latest social media update, Garcia noted, “Over the past two years of interviewing players, coaches, agents, and parents, one theme keeps coming back again and again: betting has become one of the biggest sources of pressure, abuse, and hate in modern sport.” She underscored her intention for the Tennis Insider Club to not contribute, even indirectly, to a system that can incite addiction and negatively impact athletes’ lives.
Garcia's impressive tennis career includes numerous accolades, such as winning 11 WTA titles and clinching the WTA Finals crown in 2022. That same year, she made it to the semifinals of the U.S. Open. Additionally, she won the French Open doubles title in 2016. However, her journey has not been without challenges; injuries and emotional setbacks, compounded by a break from the sport, have tested her tenacity.
In 2022, she disclosed her struggles with eating disorders, which stemmed from the physical pain of a foot injury and the emotional difficulties that competitive tennis brings. Addressing these issues, Garcia expressed her podcast's objective: “Our mission is to tell real stories from inside tennis, inspire people, and grow the sport in a way that is healthy for athletes and fans.”
Furthermore, she affirmed that accepting money from betting companies would contradict their vision and mission, stating, “Taking betting money would move us in the opposite direction.” Garcia's stance serves as a significant statement in a sport increasingly entwined with betting pressures and their adverse effects on athletes.
As Garcia transitions from her professional playing career to a media role, her values and commitment to fostering a positive environment within the sport remain evident. Through the Tennis Insider Club, she aims to inspire a culture of openness and honesty among players while advocating against the harms associated with sports betting.
