"I'm exhausted from the anxiety, panic attacks, tears" - Caroline Garcia lays bare mental health struggles, ends 2024 season to focus on herself
French tennis player Caroline Garcia has withdrawn from the rest of the 2024 season, citing panic attacks and anxiety. The 30-year-old also aims to focus on her family.
Garcia has not had an impressive season, failing to progress beyond the second round at any Grand Slam. Her best results were semifinal finishes at the WTA Guadalajara Open and the Open Capfinances Rouen Métropole. She also reached the quarterfinals of the Miami Open.
Following her most recent stint at the WTA 500 event in Guadalajara, Garcia has announced that she is withdrawing from the 2024 season. The French player shared a lengthy note on X (formerly Twitter), writing,
"Guadalajara marked the end of my 2024 season. It wasn’t an easy decision, because in tennis, every week off feels like falling behind—losing ranking points and “missing” opportunities. But I know this is the right call to come back stronger in 2025 and fight for those big moments again,"
Garcia further shared that she needs time for her shoulder to recover and to also prepare mentally to be on tour. She also added that her mindset was " toxic" this year, as she lost joy in tennis by fixating on rankings and wins, which prevented her from achieving the results she expected.
She further wrote,
"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," she wrote.
"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."
Garcia, who won the 2022 WTA singles final, has clinched 11 WTA Tour singles titles to date, including three at the WTA 1000 level. Moreover, she is also a two-time French Open doubles champion.
Caroline Garcia to "prepare early" for 2025 Australian summer
Caroline Garcia added that she will take a few weeks off and then begin her preparations to return for the start of the 2025 season.
"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,"
The former World No. 4 expressed her desire to reflect positively on her tennis journey, while thanking her supporters.
"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. And in the end, I won some pretty cool things along the way. Thank you all for your support. See you in Australia 🐨🇦🇺"
Besides Caroline Garcia, Tunisian player Ons Jabeur also withdrew from the 2024 season, citing a shoulder injury.