Boris Becker and Tracy Austin react as Caroline Garcia lays bare "toxic" mindset and mental health struggles after calling time on 2024

French tennis player Caroline Garcia opened up about her mental health struggles playing at the highest stage of the game, recently. She talked about how playing under such pressure causes her anxiety and often makes it difficult for her to lead her personal life comfortably. Legends Boris Becker and Tracy Austin have supported her.

Garcia tweeted:

"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 felt the same as before, but the results weren’t there, and I couldn’t compete at the level I knew I was capable of. That’s been hard to accept."

Austin appreciated Garcia's honesty in speaking out and wished her well for her recovery to make a stronger comeback in 2025, while Becker resonated the same. Becker replied, "Word Caro," in support of the player. Austin said:

"Appreciate your honesty. Enjoy your time off with loved ones, recover and we look forward to seeing you back on court when you are ready."

After an underwhelming first-round exit at the US Open, Garcia gave her season-best performance at the Guadalajara Open before announcing that it was her last outing in 2024, as she needed a break. The 30-year-old player last won a WTA singles final in 2022 and has 11 ITF titles while also triumphing at Roland Garros in doubles.

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Caroline Garcia blames betting companies for abuse faced online

Caroline Garcia (L) - Source: Getty

Post her US Open exit, Caroline Garcia opened up about the abuse she faced online. She shared that even after trying to do her best, she had to deal with "hundreds" of people trying to break down a player's morale. However, she highlighted that it is not the actual fans of the game that abuse players but the new additions who watch the sport from a more business-minded perspective.

In a post on Instagram, Garcia wrote:

"Tournaments and sports keep partnering with betting companies, attracting new people to unhealthy betting. The days of cigarette brands sponsoring sports are long gone. Yet, here we are promoting betting companies that actively destroy the lives of some people."

Fellow professionals like Frances Tiafoe, Jessica Pegula, and Bianca Andreescu supported Garcia's words. Many Grand Slam committees, like the US Open, have also tried to partner with A.I. companies to filter out the online abuse received by the players.