Two-time Grand Slam winner Caroline Garcia has officially announced her retirement from tennis at the age of 31. She confirmed the news ahead of the upcoming , which gets underway this weekend. She will play at Roland Garros for the 14th consecutive year before hanging up her racket for good, with her first match coming against Bernarda Pera on Sunday.
Garcia has never won a singles Grand Slam title but has achieved doubles glory twice, winning the French Open in 2016 and 2022. She came closest to an individual triumph at the three years ago, where she reached the semi-finals. Currently ranked 145th in the world, she broke into the 's top five in 2018 and 2022 and has won a total of 11 singles titles.
On Friday, Garcia confirmed her intention to retire from tennis in a lengthy and emotional statement. She took to to announce the news, explaining that she would play a few more tournaments before stepping back from the sport.
"Dear tennis, it's time to say goodbye," began Garcia. "After 15 years competing at the highest level, and more than 25 years putting pretty much every second of my life into it, I feel ready to start a new chapter.
"My tennis journey hasn't always been easy. Since my early days, tennis has been much more than just winning or losing. It's been love or hate. Happiness or anger.
"I'm deeply grateful for this journey, for everything tennis has given me, and for how much it's helped me become a strong, passionate, hard-working woman. But now, it's time for something else. My body and my personal goals need it.
"Still, this is not over, not just yet. I have a few tournaments left. The first one is at home, at Roland Garros. My 14th consecutive time being part of it. And my last.
"So to all my tennis family who'll be around: let's meet one more time, to dream, and fight together. In the coming days, there will be more time to share what's next for me.
"But for now, I just want to focus on living these last weeks as a tennis pro to the fullest. Thank you so much for your support. See you soon on court."
Garcia has already built herself a solid foundation for life after tennis. During the off-season, she enrolled in a Harvard Business School programme in which professional athletes develop their business sense by working with student mentors.
She also has a podcast, Tennis Insider Club, with her fiance Borja Duran which features exclusive interviews with those involved in the sport.
