The tennis world has officially said goodbye to two-time Grand Slam champion Garbine Muguruza, who announced her retirement from the sport at the age of 30. This decision comes after Muguruza took a step back from tennis in January 2023 and has not played since. The former world No 1, known for her big-hitting style, marked the end of her successful career at a press conference in Madrid on Saturday.
During her illustrious career, Muguruza achieved significant victories, including defeating Serena and Venus Williams to claim the 2016 Roland-Garros and the 2017 Wimbledon titles, respectively. She also reached the top of the WTA rankings after winning Wimbledon in 2017.
At the press conference, Muguruza expressed her gratitude for her career and stated, “It’s been a long and successful career, but I feel the time has come to retire. Now I am ready to start a new chapter in my life, which will surely be related in one way or another to tennis and sports.”
Known for her powerful groundstrokes and remarkable shot-making ability, Muguruza was a dominant figure on the WTA Tour between 2015 and 2021, finishing as the runner-up at Wimbledon in 2015 and at the 2020 Australian Open, before claiming victory at the WTA Finals in 2021. Her impressive career reached its pinnacle when she defeated Serena Williams to win her maiden major title at the French Open in 2016 and then triumphed over Venus Williams at Wimbledon in 2017.
While Muguruza’s retirement is a loss for the sport, her enduring legacy as one of the most popular players of her generation is secure, thanks to her exceptional skills on the court and her charismatic presence off it.
As the tennis world bids adieu to Garbine Muguruza, her retirement marks the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter in her life. Though she will undoubtedly be missed on the court, her contributions to the sport have left an indelible mark, and her future endeavors are eagerly anticipated.