"The experience of a Grand Slam champion like her has incalculable value”: Garbine Muguruza takes over as Madrid Open co-director

Former world No. 1 Garbine Muguruza has been announced as the new co-director of the Madrid Open. She will join former Spanish top-10 player Feliciano Lopez as co-directors of the joint WTA 1000 and ATP Masters 1000 tournament.

The 2-time Grand Slam champion had already officiated as director of the WTA Finals in Riyadh for the last two seasons—a tournament she won back in 2021, her last title as a professional. Her performance left good impressions on the Madrid organization, which saw in Muguruza the opportunity to bring in an experienced local former player to join an unprecedented co-director plan for a tournament of this category.

“Garbiñe's incorporation is not a symbolic gesture. It is a conviction and a declaration of principles,” stated Gerard Tsobanian, CEO of the tournament. “We firmly believe that tennis leadership must be built from diverse, complementary perspectives with the same voice and the same weight. The experience of a Grand Slam champion like her has incalculable value for a tournament like ours."

“It was always a dream for me because it is the only tournament we women have at home. It is also a 1000 category, which makes it very important,” Muguruza commented in an interview with Marca. “It is an honor to be part of it in another scope, now off the court and more in the office, as they say.”

The former world No. 1 ended a standout career early, boasting titles at Roland Garros 2016 and Wimbledon 2017—defeating Serena and Venus Williams respectively—in addition to reaching two other major finals and winning three WTA 1000 titles. Her victory at the 2021 WTA Finals marked the last title of her career.

However, following the title in Guadalajara (the former host of the Finals), Muguruza began a decline in form during the subsequent seasons. By early 2023, she announced she was taking a break from her career. Her last match was in February of that year, a first-round loss at the Lyon Open to Linda Noskova. The Spaniard was barely 29 years old, and although she maintained uncertainty for several months, she used the 2024 Madrid Open—more than a year later—to officially announce her retirement.

Since then, Muguruza has not been too distant from the tennis world. A few months later, her incorporation as the new director of the WTA Finals was announced, and she has also worked as a commentator for Tennis Channel—roles she will continue to perform. “I think so [that I can do both] because the tournaments are different but compatible. They are, generally, at different times of the year and the [Finals] tournament is only 24 players. It is small compared to the magnitude of the Mutua Madrid Open and they don't compete at all.”

The former player is just 32 years old but already possesses leadership experience thanks to her role at the WTA Finals in Riyadh. “Being close to the players for two years, [I have] that close relationship because I am a former player who retired recently. I can take care of them and make sure they have all the attention they need.”

In this year's Finals, there were players from practically the same generation as Muguruza: Madison Keys (30) or Jessica Pegula (31)—and that was just in the singles draw, as the doubles field featured players even older than Muguruza, such as the experienced Sara Errani, Su-Wei Hsieh, or Asia Muhammad.

Speaking regarding current tennis news, one of the topics the former No. 1 touched upon was the rumored potential return of Serena Williams a few days ago. The 23-time Grand Slam champion re-entered the ITIA doping system—which would make her eligible to return from retirement—generating reactions across the tennis world about a potential comeback.

Although Williams came out shortly after on social media to deny that she was thinking of returning to the courts, a shroud of doubt remains due to her registration in the ITIA system. In that vein, Muguruza acknowledged that it would be a great move for the tournament to have Serena Williams—and her sister Venus—if there were to be a comeback. “It wouldn't be bad if the Williams sisters said goodbye in Madrid. The stadium fills up. We want the Williams sisters to say goodbye here.”