“This is more than a return to competition; it’s a personal reckoning” – Garcia set for comeback in Australia

Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia, who shut down her 2024 season in early September, has set her sights on a return to the tour in Melbourne.

The 31-year-old Frenchwoman wanted to recover physically and mentally when she decided to take a break from the tour in September.

In her latest post on social media, the former world No 4 says she is ready to make her return and wants to uncover the joy of being a tennis player, rather than chase rankings and titles.

“Let the journey begin. In just one month, if all goes well, I’ll step back onto the court at the Australian Open,” Garcia wrote in the post. “This is more than a return to competition—it’s a personal reckoning. Every day, I’m putting in the work, pushing myself to be ready both physically and mentally. Most days, I find joy in the process, but there are moments when the shadows creep in—the fear of failure, the fear of not being enough. These thoughts can feel overwhelming, but I’ve come to realize that the real failure would be giving in to them, letting them define me.”

The focus is no longer on the destination, but on embracing the journey, with all its challenges and beauty.

“I want to discover what it means to play for me—to chase my own goals, to find my own reasons, to finally uncover the joy in being a tennis player,” Garcia continued. “To not let others define me. I don’t want winning a Grand Slam or returning to the top 5 to be my goal anymore. I want those achievements to be the outcome—the result of being happy, working hard, and continuously improving as a player and a person. The focus is no longer on the destination, but on embracing the journey, with all its challenges and beauty. Winning has to be the outcome, not the goal. I want to do it not for the trophies, not for the rankings or for my environment’s expectations or dreams, but for the person I’ll become through the process.”

“When this chapter ends, I want to look back and know that I succeeded—not just as an athlete, but as a human being. That I faced every difficulty, every self-doubt, and forged my own path. That I left behind the unbearable weight of expectations and found my way forward with courage and purpose. No matter the outcome, I want to look back and say: I did it my way, and that was enough. Thank you all for your support. See you in one month in Melbourne. Caro,” the world No 48 said as she concluded her note.

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