"My best moments on Tour are yet to come": Caroline Garcia stays hopeful after dark times

Caroline Garcia shared a heartfelt message on social media after another disappointing loss in 2025. The Frenchwoman had ended her 2024 season early, shortly after her first-round elimination at the US Open.

A few weeks later, she reached the Guadalajara Open semi-finals and unexpectedly advanced to the semi-finals once again (via walkover in the quarters), with her last match of the season being a loss to Magdalena Frech (6-7, 5-7).

Garcia later explained in a statement that she needed to take a break from her career to recover from both physical and mental challenges. “Physically, I feel I pushed my shoulder to the limit, trying to recover while competing, but it hasn’t worked. The truth is, I need more rest time to recover properly,” she stated back in September 2024. “Mentally, I think I need a reset; I need to step away from the constant tennis routine, take a real vacation, reconnect with my family and loved ones.”

The former world No. 4 returned this season eager to climb back to the top, especially for a player who was still in the top 10 just 18 months ago. Her ranking has since dropped to world No. 71, with a 2-5 record this season.

At Indian Wells, she claimed a solid first-round victory over Bernarda Pera (6-3, 6-4) but suffered a crushing defeat to Iga Swiatek in the second round (2-6, 0-6). “Three months back in competition. The results? Not quite where I want them to be yet,” she posted on X. “But my game, my tennis—I believe in it. What I’m most proud of, though, is my mindset. Because if you had told me a year ago that I’d be here, truly enjoying life on tour again, I wouldn’t have believed you.”

“The last two years were hell. Every day on court felt like a nightmare. And when I stepped away in September, I honestly thought that might be it. That my story in tennis was over. But instead of walking away, I took a step inward. I needed to understand how I had ended up in that dark place—and, more importantly, whether I had a reason to keep going."

“And here I am. Three months in, living what is, in many ways, my best year on tour. Not just because of what happens between the lines, but because I’ve found something even more valuable: joy. On the court, yes. But also off it. I can now spend time at tournaments without feeling overwhelmed, share conversations with fellow players, record episodes with incredible guests, and use my free time to build the relationships that truly matter to me.”

“I don’t know if my best results are still ahead. But what I do know is that my best moments on tour are yet to come—no matter how long this journey lasts,” the former WTA Finals champion added. “If you’re going through tough times, please hold on. Reach out. Speak up. There is always a way forward, even when it feels impossible to see. Sending you all good vibes—see you on court soon!”