Caroline Garcia’s firm refusal of a $270,000 podcast sponsorship sent shockwaves through the tennis community this week, not for the size of the deal she declined but for the stand she chose to take.
What followed was an outpouring of support from some of the sport’s biggest names, including Coco Gauff and Iga Świątek, who praised the former World No. 4 for prioritizing her values over a significant payday. Garcia’s post sparked a broader conversation about betting culture in sports and the growing toll it takes on athletes across all levels of competition.
Caroline Garcia Explains the Values Behind Her Refusal
After building a reputation as one of France’s leading women’s players, capturing two French Open doubles titles, and winning the 2022 WTA Finals, the 32-year-old transitioned into podcasting while wrapping up her final season on tour. She launched the Tennis Insider Club in January 2024 with her now-husband, Borja Duran, who hosts in-depth interviews with ATP and WTA players, coaches, agents, and insiders.
Her retirement became official after the 2025 US Open, where Kamilla Rakhimova defeated her in the opening round. With the podcast growing rapidly, Garcia found herself at a crossroads when a betting company offered a six-figure sponsorship that conflicted directly with what she felt the show stood for.
In her Instagram statement, Garcia explained that she and Duran turned down the sizeable offer because of the harm she believes betting culture has introduced into modern tennis. She wrote that nearly every guest they have interviewed has talked about harassment tied to gambling.
“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 wrote.
She noted that athletes, from Top 10 contenders to lower-ranked ITF competitors, are confronted with hateful messages, often from bettors who lost money. Some players have received demands for refunds, vicious insults, and even death threats. Garcia added that she does not want the Tennis Insider Club to “contribute, even indirectly, to a system that fuels addiction, destroys lives, and turns athletes into daily targets.”
She stressed that her refusal is not meant to condemn fans or players who engage with betting, but rather to establish what her show will and will not endorse. “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,” she wrote.
“Taking betting money would move us in the opposite direction.” Garcia closed her message by saying that while $270,000 is a considerable amount for an independent production, “building something long-term, honest, and good for the sport is worth more.”
How Did Coco Gauff, Iga Świątek, and Multiple Pros Signal Their Approval of Garcia’s Stance Against Betting Sponsorships?
Garcia’s message struck at the heart of an issue players have discussed for years, and the reaction from the locker room was immediate. Gauff and Swiatek were among the first to like her post, publicly signaling their support.
Prominent names quickly followed. Shelby Rogers added a clapping emoji, Kim Clijsters chimed in with “👏❤️,” Eva Lys offered multiple claps, while Alize Cornet wrote, “Such a strong stance!! We need more of this 👏👏👏 Bravo 🙌.”
Former ATP player Christopher Eubanks commented, “Absolutely love this!” and Jason Stacy, the performance coach for World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, responded with a string of supportive emojis.
Screengrab of comments on Caroline Garcia’s Instagram post
Her stance resonated widely because players have long been vocal about the abuse they face online after losses. Stars such as Świątek, Frances Tiafoe, Katie Boulter, and Elina Svitolina have previously shown screenshots of vile messages sent by angry bettors.
Many athletes admit that although they are encouraged to ignore or report these posts, reading them remains emotionally draining.