This is my last tournament, so I have nothing to lose," Garcia's words before retiring at the US Open

At 31 years old, Caroline Garcia will be bowing out during the US Open.

A recipient of a wild card for the main draw, the former world No. 4 will face Kamilla Rakhimova in the first round. In an interview with AFP, she discussed how she is approaching this match and the tournament as a whole:

"This is my last tournament, so I have nothing to lose. I’ve done everything I can to be as ready as possible given my level of play and my physical condition. I’m really happy with where I am today.

It’s true that I haven’t played many matches since Roland-Garros due to my back problems. I’m a bit short on match practice, but I’m really pleased with what we’ve been able to produce in training, and I’m approaching the tournament well."

On the verge of breaking down mentally and physically, Garcia had decided to take a break from the tour last year.

A choice that changed her perspective on tennis and allows her to end her career with a better state of mind:

"Last year, I stopped thinking that I hated tennis and that it had only brought me negative things. That’s why I wanted to come back for one more year. I would have liked to play more, but my body didn’t agree.

I was able to be myself on the court, play with the mindset I wanted and with more balance in my personal life. […] I also worked a lot on myself to be proud of my career in general. I’m leaving with plenty of good memories.