“When Caroline describes her pain, I would say she’s way over the limit”. Just days back, Serena Williams’ former coach Patrick Mouratouglou had words of advise – or you can say warning – for Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia. Her career has witnessed a rollercoaster ride lately due to injury-led setbacks. The two-time women’s doubles champion in Paris (2016 and 2022) and 2017’s quarterfinalist in singles has been trying to cope with her pain and profession simultaneously. “Physically, I’ve been pushing my shoulder to its limit,” she wrote last September while taking a break from tennis for the remainder of 2024. Mouratouglou urged her “to stop, solve the problem, and come back”. But now, the World No. 145 has decided to end the long-running struggle – seems like it’s time to call it a day.

Just days ahead of her 2025 Roland Garros campaign, Garcia shared a post on her Instagram, dated May 23. Sharing the message with her heart anchored to the ground, she wrote, “Dear Tennis, It’s time to say goodbye. After 15 years of competing at the highest level – and over 25 years of dedicating almost every second of my life to this sport–I feel ready to turn the page and open a new chapter.” With this comes the official retirement confirmation from the former World No.4.

Garcia continued, “My journey hasn’t always been easy. Since my inception, tennis has always represented much more than victories or defeats. It was love or hate. Joy or frustration. And through it all, I am deeply grateful for everything this adventure has offered me. For everything tennis has given me. For the strong, passionate, determined woman he helped me become.” However, there always comes a moment of realization to think pragmatically. She knows now’s that time. “My body – and my personal aspirations – are asking me this.”

While Garcia may have announced her retirement from the racket sport, it seems she’s not done playing yet. At least not before wrapping up her final campaign at the Roland Garros. “Still have a few tournaments to play. First one, at home, in Roland-Garros. My 14th consecutive participation – and last. So, to all my tennis family out there, let’s get together one last time, to dream together, and fight once more.”

The “Flying Caro” concluded her message, saying, “Over the next few days, I’ll be taking some time to talk about what’s coming. But for now, I just want to fully enjoy these last few weeks as a professional player. Thank you all for your support ❤️”

Embellishing Caroline Garcia’s achievements, she also succeeded in reaching the semis of 2022 US Open. Moreover, she was the winner of that season’s WTA Finals, too, in Fort Worth. However, capturing her maiden slam at the French Open, in 2016, alongside her partner Kristina Mladenovic was definitely a memory to cherish forever. It was after 45 years that an all-French duo had lifted the trophy in women’s doubles category on the Parisian clay. Garcia and Mladenovic beat the pair of Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina with a score line of 6-3 2-6 6-4.

“Winning a Grand Slam in France with another French player, Kristina, someone who I like very much and we have lived incredible things together, is something, which, for the time being, is above anything I have lived before,” Garcia said while reacting to her historic triumph, as reported by WTA’s website in May 2020.

Now that she has decided to hang up her racket soon, the tennis fraternity has come together to admire her contributions. Within hours of witnessing her emotional message on social media, notable figures have come forward to praise her.

Tennis fraternity reacts to Caroline Garcia’s retirement announcement

In her 14-year-old career, Caroline Garcia won a total of 11 titles across every surface. Her maiden WTA title came in 2014, in Bogota. In the final, she beat the defending winner and former World No.1 Jelena Janković.

So far, Garcia’s played more than 350 matches while accumulating over $18 million of prize money across tennis events, as reported by WTA’s website on May 23. Her serves have always done the talking. So much so, that in 2023, she was No.1 in hitting the most number of aces (462). But now, tennis fans and her contemporaries won’t get to see her lethal serves going forward.

After witnessing the shocking update from the French pro, Spanish player Paula Badosa couldn’t resist expressing her feelings. Commenting on Garcia’s post, she wrote, “Caro🥰❤️ you’re great, you deserve the best!” Meanwhile, the official account of the Roland Garros also admired her. “Thank you Caroline, enjoy your last Roland-Garros with us 🧡”

Swiss pro Belinda Bencic reacted with “❤️🙏🏽” to share her emotions while former World No.1 Ashleigh Barty wrote, “An amazing journey and a very very special person. Congratulations, my friend ❤️” Former Spanish WTA icon Garbine Muguruza also couldn’t resist her tears as she shared an “😢” emoji.

But guess what? There’s still time for Garcia to call it a day, right? Her avid fans will surely hope for her to leave a lasting impact when she steps on the Parisian clay for one last time this season. What are your thoughts on Garcia’s retirement call? Let us know in the comments below.