Caroline Garcia has recently engaged in deep self-reflection, describing the upcoming 2025 season as the beginning of a new chapter in her tennis career. The Frenchwoman aims to prioritize joy and happiness on the court, shifting her focus away from the pressures of achieving specific results.
This past year proved difficult for Garcia, as she struggled with consistency, finishing the season with a 17-17 record and failing to secure any titles. Her performance in Grand Slam events was particularly disappointing, with three second-round exits and a first-round loss at the US Open leading her to conclude her season early in September.
In a heartfelt social media post, the current world No. 48 acknowledged that the weight of expectations had fostered “a toxic mindset,” resulting in anxiety and panic attacks. After taking time to address these issues, Garcia is now ready to return to competition, looking forward to the Australian Open next month. “Let the journey begin. In just one month, if all goes well, I’ll step back onto the court at the Australian Open. This is more than a return to competition—it’s a personal reckoning,” she shared on X.
Garcia expressed her desire to find joy in the process of playing tennis, despite the fears that sometimes overshadow her. “Most days, I find joy in the process, but there are moments when the shadows creep in—the fear of failure, the fear of not being enough,” she wrote. However, she emphasized that succumbing to these fears would be the true failure. “I want to discover what it means to play for me—to chase my own goals, to find my own reasons, to finally uncover the joy in being a tennis player.”
Rather than fixating on winning Grand Slam titles or climbing back into the top five, Garcia aims to let these achievements arise naturally from her happiness and dedication. “Winning has to be the outcome, not the goal,” she stated. “I want to do it not for the trophies or rankings, but for the person I’ll become through the process.”
Reflecting on her struggles, Garcia recalled her disappointing performances earlier in the year, including a second-round exit at Wimbledon and a first-round loss at the Paris Olympics. Following a brief resurgence at the Guadalajara tournament in mid-September, where she reached the quarterfinals, Garcia recognized that she still had much to address.
In a candid late September post, she revealed, “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.” She also opened up about her battles with anxiety and panic attacks, admitting, “I’m exhausted from the anxiety, the panic attacks, the tears before matches… For too long, I’ve let tennis consume me.”
Despite the challenges, Garcia’s journey has seen her rediscover her form in late 2022, where she won four titles and reached the US Open semifinals, marking her return to the top 10. As she prepares for the 2023 season, she has expressed her determination to become a Grand Slam champion. However, without any titles since 2022, Garcia is now focused on finding fulfillment in her game rather than solely on results.
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