Former Wimbledon champion, double grand slam winner and Australian Open finalist Garbine Muguruza has introduced her retirement from tennis on the age of 30.
The Spaniard received the French Open in 2016 earlier than happening to raise the Venus Rosewater Dish on Wimbledon’s Centre Court the next summer time, however her profession had in critical decline after not taking part in a aggressive match since January 2023.
“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,” Muguruza advised a news convention on Saturday.
“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 travelled all over the world and experienced many different cultures.
“I’m tremendously grateful to all of the individuals who have helped and accompanied me all through this chapter, as a result of with out them I’d not have been capable of get right here.
“I have grown and matured in a very different way than what can be considered normal, and now I am ready to start a new chapter in my life, which will surely be linked in some way to tennis and sports.”
Venezuelan-born Muguruza, who was introduced as the latest Laureus Ambassador, turned skilled in 2012 and reached her first grand slam closing three years later at Wimbledon, the place she was overwhelmed by Serena Williams.
But the big-hitting Spaniard took revenge in 2016 when she shocked Williams within the closing at Roland Garros, and, a 12 months later, she beat Venus Williams so as to add the Wimbledon trophy to her assortment.
She climbed to the highest of the rankings in September 2017, the place she stayed for 4 weeks, however consistency was not Muguruza’s robust level and she or he slipped down the standings earlier than a resurgence in 2020.
Muguruza reached her fourth grand slam closing on the Australian Open, dropping to American Sofia Kenin, and she or he returned to the world’s high three on the finish of 2021 after profitable the WTA Finals for the primary time.
But the following season noticed her plummet again down the rankings and her retirement comes as no shock given her lengthy hiatus from the game.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
