Ex-tennis star rejects major betting deal

Caroline Garcia made a commendable decision, revealing that she rejected a sponsorship offer of €230,000 from a sports betting company for her podcast, “Tennis Insider Club.”

The former French tennis player, who recently retired and had reached No. 4 in the world rankings at the peak of her career, emphasized that she “does not want to contribute to creating addiction.”

Having stepped away from professional tennis after the last US Open, Garcia continues to host her podcast, “Tennis Insider Club,” where she invites her former colleagues from the world of international tennis, CE Report quotes ANA-MPA.

Open to sponsorships, the 32-year-old Frenchwoman revealed that she turned down an offer of $270,000 (approximately €230,000) from a sports betting company.

“It is a significant amount, especially for an independent sports program and for me, as someone who has just retired from professional tennis,” wrote the 11-time tournament winner in an Instagram post, adding: “Over the past two years, speaking with players, coaches, managers, and parents, one issue kept coming up: betting has become one of the main sources of pressure, abuse, and hatred in modern sports. I do not want the Tennis Insider Club to contribute, even indirectly, to creating addiction and destroying lives.”

It is worth noting that Garcia has repeatedly spoken out against the online harassment players may face, especially due to sports betting.

“I do not want the Tennis Insider Club to contribute, even indirectly, to creating addiction, destroying lives, and turning athletes into daily targets,” she stressed.

Photo: Instagram