Ganesh Kendale
Following a surprise first-round US Open defeat by Mexico’s Renata Zarazua in August, Garcia called out the “damaging” abuse tennis players suffer online.
World number one Iga Swiatek criticised the tour schedule in August, saying players’ mental and physical health is ignored.
Four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka withdrew from the 2021 French Open after suffering with depression and went on to take a break from the sport.
American 2023 US Open champion Coco Gauff also previously spoke about struggling with depression because of the “pressure that she needed to do well”.
Despite winning 11 WTA titles and two doubles Grand Slam titles in her career, Garcia says she has been fixated on her failures, rather than her 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.”
