Garcia shut her season down after the Guadalajara Open Akron shortly after the US Open in September due to what was ostensibly a shoulder injury, only for the former world No. 4 to bare all a few weeks later by writing that the problem, in fact, went much deeper. Over the years, she had been crippled by anxiety and panic attacks, she wrote, as she directly tied her personal self-worth to her on-court results.
But two weeks ago, she returned to the court to start her preseason, following a sabbatical where she studied at Harvard’s acclaimed business program for professional athletes, and posted a joyful update that her first days back practicing “exceeded expectations.”
The Frenchwoman now says the time away fortified her to fight against her inner demons.
Read more: Caroline Garcia ends 2024 season with heartfelt message posted to social media
“Every day, I’m putting in the work, pushing myself to be ready both physically and mentally,” she wrote.
“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. These thoughts can feel overwhelming, but I’ve come to realize that the real failure would be giving in to them, letting them define me.”
