The Caja Mágica is not a place that brings back excessively good memories for Garbiñe Muguruza, who before presenting the champion trophy to this year’s winner in Madrid—in the end, the Polish Iga Swiatek—speaks with her usual expressiveness: “ Phew! Every time I came here, I don’t know what happened, but wow, I got super nervous, honestly!” The fact is that this occasion is different. He is no longer a professional tennis player – he officially stopped being one on April 20, when he announced his retirement at the Laureus Awards after a voluntary one-year hiatus – and he is happily enjoying his new life with his partner, Arthur, who accompanies you on your visit to the San Fermín neighborhood. Smile Garbi, savor the decision. Knowing how to leave, how important. Better now, at 30 years old and without regrets, at peace with herself, than late and bad. The racket is now left behind and new projects appear, although in one way or another, it will always be linked to its sport.
Winner of two majors (Roland Garros 2016 and Wimbledon 2017), the Masters Cup (2021) and on her number one day (2017), Muguruza has left a beautiful memory among her teammates for her captivating tennis, unstoppable when she reached the Boiling point. If so, there was no turning back. “She is plugged in,” they warned. And zasca: history. “When I was 16, she was the best in the world. She marked an era, her playing style began to be very modern and aggressive. It’s a shame because she’s young, but if it’s what she wanted, I’m happy for her,” Paula Badosa conceded a few days ago. “She had the ability to play great tennis at any time, even though the week before she had lost in the first round,” added the American Coco Gauff. “She was an incredible player. Passionate, beautiful, strong, fighter,” continued the Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, beaten this Saturday by Swiatek in the longest final in the history of the tournament (7-5, 4-6 and 7-6(7), after 3h 11m) .
The number one, finally, is decorated in the Caja Mágica, which when Muguruza bursts into the personalities’ box and after the match on the court, to entertain the Pole, applauds loudly. There goes Garbiñe, Miss Muguruzathe girl who brought down the Williams and took over the temple of the English, who were struggling with pronunciation and there was no way: Garbine. Without ñ. Even for that it was different. Women’s tennis loses one of its great assets of the last decade and hence the recognition. This takes place in the area reserved for the players, in privacy, warm, discreet, with a representation of the WTA – the body that governs the circuit – and a brief review of the episodes shown in the table they give you, in addition to a gift. Muguruza, who is making some first steps as a commentator — “on Twitch, because she is more informal and I feel more comfortable” — is no longer playing around, she relaxes and, above all, radiates happiness.
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