Former Top-10 player Caroline Garcia hasn't had the 2024 season she had hoped to have, and she will end it early to take a mental break.
Tennis is a difficult sport because it takes up so much of an athlete's time. There are no free days for tennis players because it's a lifestyle, not just a simple sport. Players are committed to it daily, and over time, it gets very difficult.
Garcia's career has been the literal description of a yo-yo. She broke out for the first time a couple of years ago, becoming one of the best players in the world at that time.
She then completely fell off a cliff but bounced back two years ago to become a very consistent player again. Now, she struggled yet again, with this year being below expectations for the Frenchwoman.
Due to that, she announced a mental break by ending her 2024 season earlier.
"Guadalajara marked the end of my 2024 season. It wasn't an easy decision, because in tennis, every week off feels like you're falling behind—you're losing points in the rankings and "missing" opportunities."
"But I know it's the right decision to come back stronger in 2025 and fight for big moments again. Physically, I've pushed my shoulder to its limit, trying to recover while still playing, and it's just not working. I need more time to heal."
Mental breaks are relatively new to tennis but not shocking, as there have been many players who have opted to use some time to recover mentally, most notably Amanda Anisimova.
Garcia is the most recent player to opt for a break simply because it became too much. She needed a proper reset, and doing it now made sense.
"Mentally, I need a break. I need to get away from the constant routine of tennis, take a real vacation, 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 the joy of being a tennis player and became obsessed with ranking and winning. My results didn’t live up to the goals I had set for myself or the expectations I had."
The break will allow her to properly reset and still be motivated to start again in time for the next season. In her announcement, Garcia also looked back at some career highlights, such as being world number 4 and winning a couple of WTA 1000 events.
"I’m 30 now, and I’ve had an incredible career—winning Masters 1000s, WTA Finals, Grand Slam doubles, reaching No. 4 in the world. But in my mind, I’m stuck on what I didn’t accomplish."
"I never reached No. 1, never won a Grand Slam, never reached an Olympic podium. I was inconsistent, unable to stay in the top 10 for a full year."
Although her message was long and emotional, Garcia is not retiring from professional tennis. She still loves the sport and will be back, with a targeted return at the 2025 Australian Open, but the 2024 season is over for her.
"Yet, despite all of this, I love tennis. It has given me so much—lessons, experiences, incredible people (like my fiancé), and unforgettable emotions. Tennis has made me who I am."
"So, I'm choosing to step away for now. I'm taking a few weeks off to recharge, and then I'll start preparing for 2025—getting ready physically, mentally, and tactically."
"When I finally leave tennis, I want to be able to look back and say that I enjoyed the journey, that I'm proud of myself, and that I gave it my all. And in the end, I'll have won some really cool things along the way. Thank you all for your support. See you in Australia."
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