Former world number four announces she won’t play until 2025 after saying she let tennis ‘consume’ her

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With scheduling complaints piling up against the ATP and WTA Tour’s, another player has called an end to her 2024 season early.

The conclusion of the US Open often gives rise to debate over the intense schedule players are subject to enduring.

With champions Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner having taken prolonged periods off to recover from their New York exploits, the relentless calendar is affecting those right at the top of the game.

The Asian swing has already kicked off with a WTA-1000 event in Beijing, meaning there has been little respite for players hoping for a less intense end to 2024.

Tournaments like the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup are still to come as those on both circuits begin their grind before the short winter break.

For one top WTA player however, the unrelenting demands of the tour have started to weigh too heavy, prompting her to bring about a premature end to the season.

Caroline Garcia laments ‘toxic’ season and sets comeback for 2025

France’s former world number four Caroline Garcia did not make it past the second round of a singles Grand Slam event this year, most recently losing to Renata Zarazua in the opening round of the US Open.

As well as dealing with a shoulder injury, the world number 36 had admitted she’s also been suffering from the mental toll of life on tour.

In an emotional Instagram post, Garcia wrote: “Guadalajara marked the end of my 2024 season. It wasn’t an easy decision, because in tennis, every week off feels like falling behind-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 again.”

Concerning her injuries, Garcia continued: “Physically, I’ve been pushing my shoulder to its limit, trying to recover while competing, and it’s just not working. I need more time off to heal properly. Mentally, I need a reset. I need to step away from the constant grind of tennis, take a real holiday, 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 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. 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’s been really hard to accept.”

Despite having reached won multiple finals and competed at the very top of the WTA circuit, Gacia admitted she’s been too busy focussing on her shortcomings rather than successes.

“In my mind, I’ve been stuck on what I haven’t achieved. I never made it to number one, never won a (singles) Slam, never reached an Olympic podium. I’ve been inconsistent, unable to stay in the top 10 for a full year,” she wrote.

“I’m choosing to step away for now. I’m taking a few weeks off to recharge, then I’ll start preparing for 2025 early—getting ready physically, mentally, and tactically.

I’m exhausted from the anxiety, the panic attacks, the tears before matches,” the 30-year-old admitted. “Tired of missing out on family moments and never having a place to truly call home. I’m tired of living in a world where my worth is measured by last week’s results, my ranking, or my unforced errors.

“For too long, I’ve let tennis consume me, ride the emotional highs and lows of every result. But I’m more than that. I’m a woman with values, talents, passions, flaws, and strengths. I’m not perfect, but I’m doing my best.”

Carolina Garcia joins other former top 10 WTA players in calling an early end to 2024

It’s been a uniquely gruelling last few months on tour, with the extra ten days and surface changes the Paris Olympics threw up causing a lot of players to make some tough decisions.

The former world number three Elina Svitolina ended her season early for the second consecutive year and has since undergone major surgery.

Multiple Grand Slam finalist Ons Jabeur has also cut her 2024 short after an injury ravaged year has seen forced out of the Olympics and the US Open.

Garcia’s message of mental toll is one likely experienced by other players – unfortunately it’s difficult to know how the WTA might go about combatting player welfare concerns.