Caroline Garcia Concludes Illustrious Tennis Career at US Open
St. Petersburg, Florida – French tennis star Caroline Garcia played what she anticipates will be her final professional match on Monday at the US Open, falling to Kamilla Rakhimova 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 in the first round. Garcia, 31, had previously announced that the 2025 season would be her last on the Hologic WTA Tour.
The match carried significant emotional weight for Garcia. “Obviously it’s not really easy to step on the court when you don’t know if it’s your last match, or if you win maybe you have another last match,” she shared with reporters. “It’s kind of a tricky moment. But a lot of emotion before the match, even if I got a lot of emotion out in Roland Garros. But, yeah, it meant a lot for me to play one more time [at the] US Open.”
Garcia began her professional journey in 2007 at the age of 13, competing on the ITF Circuit in France. she first qualified for a WTA event at the Paris Indoors in 2010 and made her main-draw debut at a WTA Tour-level tournament as a wildcard at the Australian Open in 2011. That same year, while still a junior player, she finished as runner-up in the US Open Girls’ singles competition, losing to Grace Min.
Throughout her career, Garcia accumulated 11 WTA singles titles, reaching a total of 16 finals. Her first WTA singles title came in Bogotá in 2014, where she defeated former World No.1 Jelena Jankovic. A breakthrough year came in 2017 when she became the first player to win both the Wuhan Open and the China Open in consecutive weeks, propelling her into the Top 10 of the WTA rankings for the first time.
She reached a career-high singles ranking of No. 4 on September 10, 2018. Though, her most successful period was yet to come. 2022 proved to be a landmark year, highlighted by a victory at the WTA 1000 Cincinnati Open and a semifinal appearance at the US Open - her best Grand Slam singles result. She capped off the year by winning the WTA Finals in Fort Worth, defeating Aryna sabalenka in the championship match.
During 2022, Garcia also achieved a notable victory over then-World No. 1 Iga Swiatek in Warsaw and distinguished herself as the only player to win titles on all three major court surfaces (hard, clay, and grass). She finished the season ranked No. 4,marking her second time reaching the Top 10.
Garcia also enjoyed success in doubles, achieving a career-high ranking of No. 2 in October 2016. She secured eight doubles titles, including two triumphs at her home Grand Slam, Roland Garros, in 2016 and 2022, partnering with Kristina Mladenovic. The duo was recognized as the WTA Doubles Team of the Year at the end of the 2016 season.
WTA CEO Portia Archer lauded Garcia’s career, stating, “Congratulations to Caroline for her outstanding career in both singles and doubles. Alongside her dazzling game, which captivated fans worldwide, we are thankful for Caroline’s advocacy for her fellow athletes, including her contribution as a member of the WTA Players’ Council. On behalf of the WTA family, I wish her every happiness and success as she flies into the future.”
Beyond individual accolades, Garcia contributed to team success, being a member of the French team that won the Billie Jean King Cup in 2019. she also represented France at the Olympic Games in Rio and Paris.In 2023,she led the WTA Tour in aces with 462.
Looking ahead, Garcia expressed contentment with her decision. “It’s kind of weird to say, but I’m very happy,” she said. “It was a great run. … Obviously you can always achieve more, and I was dreaming of achieving more. But I’m very happy and [at] peace with my decision to move forward with my life and close the chapter of being a tennis player.”
Garcia concludes her career with a 472-365 win-loss record in main draw matches and career prize money exceeding $18.7 million.
