Caroline Garcia introduced the tip of her 2024 season but additionally the chance to very candidly open up in regards to the struggles she has battling during the last couple of months, together with panic and nervousness assaults which make enjoying the sport much less pleasing.
After rediscovering her finest recreation in 2022 and returning to being among the best gamers within the recreation, the Frenchwoman entered the 2023 season hoping to develop into a Grand Slam. However her previous woes returned and she or he did not handle to maintain up with the identical degree final yr.
Getting into this yr, Garcia wished to bounce again and make some noise. Sadly, it was all however an enormous comeback yr after the 30-year-old posted only a 17-16 document and struggled with inconsistency all through the season.
Nonetheless, it must be famous that the present world No. 36 struggled with a nagging shoulder problem over all the 2024. In her final match performed, the previous world No. 4 reached her second semifinal of the yr in Guadalajara earlier than shedding to Magdalena Frech.
“Bodily, I’ve been pushing my shoulder to its restrict, making an attempt to recuperate whereas competing, and it’s simply not working. I would like extra time without work to heal correctly. Mentally, I would like a reset. I have to step away from the fixed grind of tennis, take an actual vacation, reconnect with my household and family members, and permit myself to breathe with out the strain of efficiency,” Garcia introduced on X.
Garcia: My mindset was poisonous…
The Frenchwoman – who was tipped for giant success early on in her profession – reached a career-high rating of No. 4 in 2018. However then, she began fighting large expectations and strain and ended up being in a darkish spot earlier than finally rediscovering her finest recreation in 2022.
When the 30-year-old made the 2022 US Open semifinal and received the 2022 WTA Finals, she regarded very completely happy on the court docket and way more relaxed in comparison with some earlier years. Sadly, when issues obtained more durable after that season and she or he did not handle to go a step additional, her previous woes reappeared.
And now, Garcia admits that the considered by no means profitable a Grand Slam in singles or being the top-ranked participant weighed heavy on her thoughts.
“This yr, my mindset was poisonous. I misplaced contact with the enjoyment of being a tennis participant and have become obsessive about rankings and wins. My outcomes didn’t match the targets I set or the expectations I had. The work, the sacrifices, the ache—all of it felt the identical as earlier than, however the outcomes weren’t there, and I couldn’t compete on the degree I do know I’m able to. That’s been actually laborious to simply accept,” the the world No. 36 defined.
“I’m 30 now, and I’ve had an unimaginable profession—profitable 1000-level titles, the WTA Finals, doubles Slams, reaching No. 4 on the earth. However in my thoughts, I’ve been caught on what I haven’t achieved. I by no means made it to No. 1, by no means received a Slam, by no means reached an Olympic podium. I’ve been inconsistent, unable to remain within the high 10 for a full yr. Do I imagine I can nonetheless obtain these issues? Some days, sure. Different days, I’m not so positive. I’m not sure I can preserve pushing in the identical method I’ve earlier than.”
Garcia is mentally uninterested in nervousness and panic assaults
When you have got huge targets and expectations however the outcomes aren’t coming, it turns into mentally draining to exit and compete once more. And the previous world No. 4 is the primary to acknowledge that.
“I’m exhausted from the nervousness, the panic assaults, the tears earlier than matches. Uninterested in lacking out on household moments and by no means having a spot to actually name house. I’m uninterested in dwelling in a world the place my value is measured by final week’s outcomes, my rating, or my unforced errors. For too lengthy, I’ve let tennis devour me, trip the emotional highs and lows of each end result. However I’m greater than that. I’m a girl with values, abilities, passions, flaws, and strengths. I’m not good, however I’m doing my finest,” Garcia famous.
In her message, the 30-year-old additionally hinted that she plans to take a few weeks off earlier than she begins getting ready for the brand new season. Additionally, the French tennis star confirmed that she is planning to start out the 2025 season in Australia.
Guadalajara marked the tip of my 2024 season. It wasn’t a simple resolution, as a result of in tennis, each week off seems like falling behind—shedding rating factors and “lacking” alternatives. However I do know that is the appropriate name to come back again stronger in 2025 and struggle for these huge moments… pic.twitter.com/UISnUQnuWf
— Caroline Garcia (@CaroGarcia) September 27, 2024
It stays to be seen if Garcia can attain her targets in 2025.
