French No 1 Caroline Garcia has ended her season early after admitting she has been struggling with her mental health and injuries arising from playing under pressure that ramps up her anxiety and often makes it difficult for her to lead a comfortable personal life.
Tournaments and sports keep partnering with betting companies, attracting new people to unhealthy betting. The days of cigarette brands sponsoring sports are long gone. Yet, here we are promoting betting companies that actively destroy the lives of some people. Caroline Garcia
After a 1st-round exit at the US Open in August, Garcia reached the semi-finals of the Guadalajara Open in Mexico earlier this month, lifting her singles ranking to No 29.
Despite winning two matches at a tournament for the first time since April, the former World No 4 has decided to step away from tennis until the start of 2025.
“Physically, I’ve been pushing my shoulder to its limit, trying to recover while competing, and it’s just not working. I need more time off to heal properly,” Garcia wrote in a long statement on social media.
“Mentally, I need 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.
“This year, my mindset was toxic. I lost touch with the joy of being a tennis player and became obsessed with rankings and wins. My results didn’t match the goals I set or the expectations I had. The work, the sacrifices, the pain—it all felt the same as before, but the results weren’t there, and I couldn’t compete at the level I know I’m capable of. That’s been really hard to accept.
“I’m 30 now, and I’ve had an incredible career—winning 1000-level titles, the WTA Finals, doubles Slams, reaching No. 4 in the world. But in my mind, I’ve been stuck on what I haven’t achieved. I never made it to No 1, never won a Slam, never reached an Olympic podium. 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. For too long, I’ve let tennis consume me, ride the emotional highs and lows of every result. But I’m more than that. I’m a woman with values, talents, passions, flaws, and strengths.
“I’m not perfect, but I’m doing my best. I wish it were easy to change, to grow, to embrace a new mindset. I wish I could just go out there, play freely, smile, and hit my best shots when it counts. But like my friend Alize Cornet says, real change takes time. You can’t undo years of conditioning overnight.
“Lately, I’ve felt overwhelmed on tour—the pressure to perform, the eyes watching your every move. I’ve been struggling with anxiety, closing myself off, feeling trapped on court. Winning doesn’t feel fulfilling anymore; it just brings relief that it’s over.
“So, I’m choosing to step away for now. I’m taking a few weeks off to recharge, then I’ll start preparing for 2025 early—getting ready physically, mentally, and tactically.”
Caroline Garcia has admitted to feeling under pressure on tour and has suffered online abuse after losses from disappointed gamblers
© Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Garcia climbed to 4th in the world in 2018, and also returned to the same position after claiming the biggest title of her career at the season-ending WTA Finals in 2022, but she ends this season having won 17 of her 34 matches.
The highs have been limited for her recently, with a quarter-final appearance in Miami being the best result of the season, where she lost to eventual champion Danielle Collins from the USA, while the lows included early exits in Paris at both Roland Garros and the Olympics.
Garcia has also endured off-court struggles, particularly online abuse, which she highlighted after her US Open exit, when she shared that even after trying to do her best, she had to deal with ‘hundreds’ of people trying to break down her morale.
She pointed out that it is not the actual fans of the game that abuse players, but the new additions who watch the sport from a more business-minded perspective.
In a post on Instagram, Garcia wrote: “Tournaments and sports keep partnering with betting companies, attracting new people to unhealthy betting. The days of cigarette brands sponsoring sports are long gone. Yet, here we are promoting betting companies that actively destroy the lives of some people.”
There is growing concern over mental health, which continues to be put last in terms of player welfare, and a number of players pushing for change, including World No 1 Iga Swiatek, Jessica Pegula and Collins.
As for Garcia, she will be hoping for a successful reset ahead of the Australian Open, which starts on the 12th of January.
The highlight of 30-year old Caroline Garcia’s career so far has been winning the 2022 WTA Finals in Fort Worth, Texas
© Tom Pennington/Getty Images
