The 11-time title winner took to social media to explain her decision, writing: “Today we turned down a $270,000 sponsorship offer from a betting company for our podcast. It’s a huge amount of money, especially for an independent sports show and for me, someone who just retired from pro tennis. But here is why we said no.
“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. Every player, from Top 10 stars to ITF grinders, has stories. DMs full of insults after a match. People demanding money back because they lost a bet. Even death threats. Not because of sport. Because of gambling.
“I do not want Tennis Insider Club to contribute, even indirectly, to a system that fuels addiction, destroys lives, and turns athletes into daily targets. Betting companies spend millions on sponsorships because it works. It shifts attention. It shapes behaviour. It normalises gambling. But we do not want our community pushed in that direction.
“This is not a moral crusade. I am not judging anyone who bets casually, or athletes who accept betting sponsors. I am simply choosing what we want to stand for, and what we do not want to amplify.”
Garcia, who has been vocal about the abuse she received from gamblers during her own tennis career, is now hoping to find potential partners who share the same values as herself and her podcast.
“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. Taking betting money would move us in the opposite direction. And if we expect athletes to trust us enough to be vulnerable on the podcast, to share their fears, doubts, and mental health battles, then we need to show them that we choose values over money,” she added.
“$270k is a lot. But building something long-term, honest, and good for the sport is worth more. We will find partners who believe in that vision, who want to grow with us, not exploit the pressure athletes already face. Thank you for supporting what we are building. We are just getting started. And we are doing it the right way.”
It’s no surprise that Garcia has refused to work with a betting company. Last year, the former world No. 4 shared a powerful social media post with examples of messages she received from those who lost money betting on her matches. They branded her a “piece of s****” and a clown, and sent death threats to Garcia and her family.
Current and former tennis players applauded Garcia for her decision, with Kim Clijsters, Eva Lys, and Christopher Eubanks among those who commented on the French star’s post about the £202k sponsorship deal.