Garbine Muguruza, the former world number one in women’s tennis, has officially announced her retirement from the sport. The 30-year-old made the announcement at a press conference in Madrid, stating that she feels ready to embark on a new chapter in her life.
Muguruza, who was born in Venezuela and later represented Spain, retires as the second-most successful female Spanish singles player of all time, behind Arantxa Sanchez Vicario. Muguruza won two Grand Slam titles during her career, both of which came after defeating one of the Williams sisters. In 2016, she defeated Serena Williams to win the French Open, and in 2017, she triumphed over Venus Williams to claim the Wimbledon title.
The Williams sisters played a significant role in Muguruza’s career, serving as her role models. Muguruza admired their impact on women’s tennis and their aggressive style of play, which she incorporated into her own game. In an article for El País in 2022, she credited Serena Williams with creating a turning point in women’s tennis that pushed players to strive for greatness.
Throughout her career, Muguruza reached the final of three out of the four Grand Slam tournaments. Her best performance at the US Open came in 2017 and 2021, but she only made it to the fourth round on both occasions. In a surprising turn of events, she emerged victorious at the WTA Tour Finals in 2021, showcasing her powerful style of play.
Muguruza’s last match took place at a WTA 250 event in Lyon, where she suffered a straight-sets defeat to qualifier Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic. Her final appearance in a Grand Slam tournament came in the first round of the 2023 Australian Open, where she was defeated by Belgium’s Elise Mertens.
The decision to retire did not come as a surprise, as Muguruza had taken an extended break from competition in April of the previous year to focus on spending time with her loved ones. She expressed that tennis no longer occupied her mind or routines, and she only played occasionally for fun.
As Muguruza bids farewell to professional tennis, her retirement marks the end of an era for Spanish women’s tennis. Her achievements and impact on the sport will undoubtedly leave a lasting legacy, inspiring future generations of players to strive for greatness.