Caroline Garcia talks about a major struggle with anxiety and panic attacks

Caroline Garcia announced the end of her 2024 season, but also the opportunity to speak very candidly about the struggles she has battled in recent months, including panic and anxiety attacks that make playing the game less enjoyable.

After rediscovering her best game in 2022 and returning as one of the best players in the game, the Frenchwoman entered the 2023 season hoping to become a Grand Slam. But the problems from the past returned and she was unable to maintain the same level last year.

This year, Garcia wanted to bounce back and make some noise. Unfortunately, it was anything but a big comeback year after the 30-year-old posted just a 17-16 record and struggled with inconsistencies throughout the season.

However, it should be noted that the current world number 36 was dealing with a nagging shoulder problem throughout 2024. In her last tournament played, the former world number 4 reached her second semi-final of the year in Guadalajara before losing to Magdalena Frech. .

“Physically I have pushed my shoulder to the limit, tried to recover during matches, but it just doesn’t work. I need more time off to heal properly. Mentally I need a reset. I need to move away from the constant playing of tennis, taking a real vacation, reconnecting with my family and loved ones, and allowing myself to breathe without the pressure of performance,” Garcia announced on X.

Garcia: My mentality was toxic…

The Frenchwoman – who was tipped for great success early in her career – reached a career-high fourth place in 2018. But then she began to struggle with enormous expectations and pressure and found herself in a dark place before eventually rediscovering her best match in 2022.

When the 30-year-old reached the semi-finals of the 2022 US Open and won the 2022 WTA Finals, she looked very happy on the court and much more relaxed compared to some previous years. Unfortunately, when things got tougher after that season and she wasn’t able to take things further, her past problems resurfaced.

And now Garcia admits that the thought of never winning a singles Grand Slam or becoming the best player weighed heavily on her.

“This year my mentality was toxic. I lost touch with the joy of playing tennis and became obsessed with rankings and victories. My results did not 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 was very difficult to accept,” the world number 36 explained.

“I’m 30 now and have had an incredible career: I’ve won 1000-level titles, reached the WTA Finals, doubles Slams and reached number 4 in the world. But in my head I’m stuck on what I want to do. ” I never reached No. 1, never won a Slam, never reached an Olympic podium. I have been inconsistent and have not been able to stay in the top 10 for a full year. Do I believe I can still achieve something? Those things? Some days yes. Other days I’m not sure if I can continue in the same way as before.’

Garcia is mentally tired from anxiety and panic attacks

When you have big goals and expectations, but the results don’t materialize, it becomes mentally exhausting to get back out there and compete. And former number 4 in the world is the first to acknowledge that.

“I’m exhausted from the anxiety, the panic attacks, the tears before games. I’m tired of missing family moments and never having a place I can truly call home. I’m tired of living in a world where my value is measured by last week’s results, my ranking, or my unforced errors. For too long I have let myself be consumed by tennis, the emotional highs and lows of each result. But I am more than that and strengths I am not perfect, but I do my best,” Garcia noted.

In her post, the 30-year-old also hinted that she plans to take a few weeks off before preparing for the new season. The French tennis star also confirmed that she plans to start the 2025 season in Australia.

Guadalajara marked the end of my 2024 season. It was not an easy decision, because in tennis, every week off feels like a backlog: 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… pic.twitter.com/UISnUQnuWf

— Caroline Garcia (@CaroGarcia) September 27, 2024

It remains to be seen if Garcia can achieve her goals in 2025.