Spanish two-time major champion Garbine Muguruza has retired from professional tennis at age 30.
Using the lead up to the Madrid Masters as the perfect backdrop, Muguruza announced,
“I feel that it is time to retire and open up a new chapter in my life,” the former world No. 1 said.
Having not played a match in over 15 months, the news comes as no surprise, but is nonetheless, somewhat disappointing for the tennis fraternity. Garbiñe has been a favourite on the tour since she made her main draw WTA debut at Miami in 2012, making it through to the round of 16.
Australia also has a special place in Muguruza’s heart, as it was in Hobart, back in 2014, where she lifted her first WTA winners trophy.
Nine more titles would follow, including two majors, the 2016 French Open, where she defeated Serena Williams, and the 2017 Wimbledon final, where it was the other Williams sister, Venus, across the other side of the net.
Add to that, runner-up at Wimbledon and the Australian Open, 3 Masters 1000 titles, an end of year WTA finals victory in 2021, plus an ascent to world number 1. It becomes clear that the tennis Hall of Fame, may just have to make some space for the Spaniard at some stage.
Reflecting on her career, Muguruza said: “If, 25 years ago when I started hitting my first tennis balls, someone had told me that I would become a professional tennis player, that I would fulfil my dream of winning Roland Garros and Wimbledon, that I would become No.1 in the world and win the WTA Finals … I would have thought this person was crazy.”
She continued: “Tennis has given me a lot in this first part of my life. It has been a fantastic journey in which I have experienced unique situations. I have traveled all over the world and experienced many different cultures. I am tremendously grateful to all the people who have helped and accompanied me throughout this chapter, because without them I would not have been able to get here.”
One important addition to her resume, comes off court. Since 2017, Muguruza has been an ambassador for the international non-profit organisation, Room to Read, which collaborates with governments, organisations, and local communities, in trying to improve the literacy standards for girls across the globe.
