Garbine Muguruza seeks quiet retirement after saying goodbye to tennis - 'I just want to do nothing'
Published 24/04/2024 at 13:55 GMT
Garbine Muguruza announced her retirement from tennis on Saturday, but the 30-year-old Spaniard insists she has no grand plans for the future and just wants to "do nothing" and enjoy her retirement. Muguruza was world number one in 2017 and remains the only player ever to have beaten both Serena and Venus Williams in Grand Slam finals. She also won Wimbledon, the French Open and the WTA Finals.
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Former world No. 1 Garbine Muguruza says she is looking forward to "doing nothing" after announcing her retirement from tennis on Saturday.
The 30-year-old Spaniard, who lifted the 2016 French Open at Roland-Garros and emerged victorious at Wimbledon in 2017, had taken an extended break from the sport before confirming her exit over the weekend.
After an immensely successful career at the highest levels of tennis, many have asked Muguruza what comes next? But there are no grand plans in the making for Muguruza, who paints a picture of a quiet retirement.
“People expect a great answer from me, I’m leaving tennis because I’m going to do this or that, I’m going to go into business, I’m going to develop a cookie – whatever it is,” she said.
“No. I’m leaving tennis because I’m looking forward to being with my loved ones, making a trip without my tennis racquets, probably building a family, getting a dog. I just want to do nothing.”
Muguruza only turned professional in 2012, just four years before winning her first Slam. She then became the first player ever to beat Serena and Venus Williams in Grand Slam finals on her way to winning 15 tour-level tournaments, including the WTA Finals in 2021.
Yet while Muguruza clearly made the most of her 12 years in tennis, she admits that wanting a family and settling down can be difficult to admit for elite women athletes.
"I do feel that woman power is great, but I feel bad to say sometimes that I want to be home and maybe have a family, take care of my kids,” she adds. “It’s like bad nowadays to say something like that. It feels like always I have to say I want to be a businesswoman, I’m going to be a role model.
“My father always says to me, ‘Garbine, don’t forget to live life. You don’t have to be the queen of Spain – relax’."
Muguruza also admitted to struggling with loneliness on the tour, as well as the chaotic lifestyle and packed schedule required when travelling the world to compete in top tournaments. Naomi Osaka and Ashleigh Barty have also spoken of the tour's unforgiving pace, with the latter retiring at the age of 25 while world No. 1.
But for all the stress, Muguruza looks back on her career fondly and considers herself incredibly fortunate as an elite tennis player.
"I felt very lucky to play tennis," she says. "It’s a popular sport and we have better sponsors, tournaments, more prize money. I’ve trained around many other athletes from different sports and I saw how hard it was for them. They didn’t have the same opportunities. I was like, ‘man, I don’t care if I’m criticised’. I’m so lucky.”
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