Away from the tennis courts since mid-September due to deep saturation and great discomfort, Caroline Garcia will return to competition in 2025. She has just announced it this Monday on social networks where she published a long explanatory message.
“In just a month, if all goes well, I will return to the courts at the Australian Open (January 12-26). It’s not just a return to competition, it’s a personal confrontation,” she assures.
Aged 31, the Lyonnaise has logically fallen in the WTA rankings. She has also left the ranking of the fifty best players in the world. Before returning to 48th place in the ranking published this Monday.
On September 27, Caroline Garcia, who remains the best French player despite the emergence of Diane Perry (54th), had already explained on social networks her need to take a step back. She had notably mentioned her need to move away from “the tennis grinding machine” while also mentioning cyberharassment.
Let the adventure begin.
In just a month, if all goes well, I will return to the courts at the Australian Open. This isn’t just a return to competition—it’s a personal confrontation. Every day I work hard, push myself to be physically ready and…
— Caroline Garcia (@CaroGarcia) November 25, 2024
“Victory must be a consequence, not an end in itself”
Today, the former world number 4 seems to have regained the upper hand. “Every day I work hard, pushing myself to be ready physically and mentally. Most of the time I find joy in this process, but there are times when doubts set in, fear of failure, fear of not being good enough. These thoughts can be overwhelming, but I realized that the real failure would be to give in to them, to let them define me. »
The Frenchwoman, however, announces a new approach: “I no longer want winning a Grand Slam or returning to the top 5 to be my goals.”
Beyond the sporting aspect, Caroline Garcia talks about her personal quest: “I want these successes to be the consequence, the result of being happy, working hard and continually improving as a player and as a person. The goal is no longer the destination, but to embrace the journey, with all its challenges and beauty. Victory must be a consequence, not an end in itself. I want to do it, not for the trophies, not for the rankings or the expectations and dreams of those around me, but for the person I will become through this process. »
