Caroline Garcia flies away from tennis

Caroline Garcia bid farewell to professional tennis at the US Open, closing her 14-year career with a first-round loss to Kamilla Rakhimova, 6-4 4-6 6-3. The 31-year-old Frenchwoman was overcome with emotion, breaking down in tears as the final chapter of her journey on tour came to an end.

We’re not crying, you’re crying 🥲 pic.twitter.com/uslPX4kyYp

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 25, 2025

Garcia’s career was marked by excellence in both singles and doubles, which is an increasingly rare achievement in today’s game. She reached a career-high singles ranking of world No. 4 and climbed as high as No. 2 in doubles. Over the years, she collected 11 singles titles and eight doubles crowns, highlighted by her biggest triumph in 2022 when she captured the WTA Finals in singles.

Alongside Kristina Mladenovic, Garcia twice lifted the French Open doubles trophy, in 2016 and 2022. She was also central to France’s Billie Jean King Cup success, featuring on the team for seven straight years and helping secure the title in 2019. On the global stage, she represented her country at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. Beyond her results, Garcia left her mark with her signature “Fly with Caro” celebration.

“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,” Garcia said earlier this year.

In an emotional message shared on social media last September, the WTA star spoke candidly about the toll of life on tour: “I’m exhausted from the anxiety, the panic attacks, the tears before matches. Tired of missing out on family moments and never having a place to truly call home. I’m tired of living in a world where my worth is measured by last week’s results, my ranking, or my unforced errors.”

Garcia’s style of play was built on a big serve, a powerful forehand, reliable backhand, deft net play, and superb movement. In both 2022 and 2023, she finished the season as the tour’s ace leader, striking 394 and 462 respectively.

Both US Open tournament director Stacey Allaster and FFT president Gilles Moretton joined Caroline Garcia on court after she wrapped up her playing career in New York. pic.twitter.com/b7KBSdylyY

— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) August 26, 2025

Her farewell in New York was honored on court by US Open tournament director Stacey Allaster and French Tennis Federation president Gilles Moretton. Afterwards, Garcia celebrated her retirement with her husband, Borja Duran, during an official WTA ceremony at Flushing Meadows.