Caroline Garcia ended her WTA Tour season Friday, citing shoulder issues as well as exhaustion from “anxiety” and “panic attacks.”
The 30-year-old Frenchwoman, currently ranked No. 36 in the world, did not make it past the second round at any of the Grand Slam events this season.
In a lengthy social media post on X, Garcia said she has been pushing her shoulder “to its limit” and needs more time off to heal properly.
Mentally, Garcia said she requires a “reset.”
“I need to step away from the constant grind of tennis, take a real holiday, reconnect with my family and loved ones, and allow myself to breathe without the pressure of performance,” she wrote.
Instead of focusing on her accomplishments, including 11 WTA singles titles and two French Open doubles titles (2016, 2022), Garcia said her “toxic” mindset has been stuck on the things she hasn’t achieved.
“I never made it to No. 1, never won a Slam, never reached an Olympic podium,” wrote Garcia, who reached a career-high No. 4 singles ranking in September 2018. “I’ve been inconsistent, unable to stay in the top 10 for a full year.
“… I’m exhausted from the anxiety, the panic attacks, the tears before matches. Tired of missing out on family moments and never having a place to truly call home.
“I’m tired of living in a world where my worth is measured by last week’s results, my ranking, or my unforced errors.”
Despite the physical and mental toll, Garcia said she plans to take a few weeks off to recharge before preparing for 2025.
“When I eventually leave tennis behind, I want to look back and say I enjoyed the journey, I’m proud of myself, and I gave it my all,” Garcia said. “And in the end, I won some pretty cool things along the way.”
–Field Level Media
