"I couldn't even breathe": Caroline Garcia left in tears discussing mental health battle and range of emotions during Australian Open defeat
WTAThursday, 18 January 2024 at 22:00
World No.
17 Caroline Garcia suffered a painful defeat in the second round against world
No. 69 Magdalena Frech, losing 4-6, 6-7, just two days after overcoming 2-times
Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka in the first round. The French player
spoke about her mental health upon leaving Melbourne, revealing that she
"couldn't breathe" while playing against Frech.
The
30-year-old athlete publicly addressed issues of anxiety, stress, and bulimia
in a recent interview. Through tears, Garcia spoke to French media, explaining
that she has been grappling with anxiety for a significant period:
“In this
match, I couldn’t even breathe,” Garcia said while in tears to French media.
“How can I find the solution on my serve if I can’t even breathe — the simplest
thing in the world? It’s only the second round of the Australian Open. Why am I
in such a state? I do not know.
“But for a
certain period of time, it’s been like this and I can’t get over it. And in
fact, it eats me up. Sometimes I say to myself, ‘but why am I doing this?' If
we could understand and manage emotions overnight, there would be no stressed
person left on earth.
Garcia opens up on social media:
Prior to
the match against Osaka, Garcia shared a message on social media, saying,
"Sometimes there is a lot going on. Sometimes I'm really struggling with
my emotions. On court, I'm not always having a great time lately."
“We are
trying to, yeah, work on it. Sometimes it's overwhelming. Definitely to be
playing first round Naomi, coming back, great, great player, playing very late
match, I was overwhelmed and I was scared to step out there. Sometimes it is
good to let emotion out, yeah, embrace it. Then you try the best you can,” she concluded.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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