Muguruza intends to return in 2024, receives Gold Medal for Sports Merit recognition and insists she is not retired

Former world number one Garbine Muguruza has hinted at a potential return to professional tennis next year.

The 29-year-old has not played a professional tennis match since January 2023 where she suffered a defeat against Czech Republic’s Linda Noskova.

Muguruza later announced that she skip the French Open and Wimbledon this year to spend more time with her family.

That announcement intensified rumours about the future of the two-time Grand Slam winner. However, the Caracas-born, stated that she is preparing herself to return to the court.

“I’m enjoying this sabbatical,” she said while speaking at the Chamartín Tennis Club. “I think it’s good to stop but it’s not a definitive goodbye. I want to prepare myself to come back, when I’m ready I’ll go back to the courts.”

When Muguruza was asked about her goals when she will return to the tennis court, she responded by saying: “US Open, Australian Open, Olympic medal.”

During the ceremony, Muguruza received a Gold Medal for Sports Merit and revealed happiness in doing that.

“(I am) very excited by this recognition,” she said. “It makes me feel very proud to play, to achieve so many successes. I wanted to thank the president of the CSD for coming and giving me this award and the President of the Federation Miguel Díaz. I thank my mother and my partner, who have been able to come today.”

Muguruza won two Grand Slam titles in her career. Her first big triumph came in 2016 when she defeated America’s legendary tennis player Serena Williams with a score of 7–5, 6–4 to lift the French Open.

Her second major title came a year later when she got the better of Serena’s sister and former world number one Venus Williams in the final with a score of 7–5, 6–0 to lift the Wimbledon trophy.