(August 25, 2025) FLUSHING, NY -WTA- St Petersburg, FL, USA – France’s Caroline Garcia played the last singles match of her professional tennis career at the US Open today. Having announced ahead of Roland Garros that 2025 would be her last season on the Hologic WTA Tour, the 31-year-old was defeated by Kamilla Rakhimova in the first round, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.
Garcia made her professional debut in 2007 on the ITF Circuit in France, at the age of 13. She played her first WTA qualifying event at the Paris Indoors in 2010, while her Tour-level main draw debut came as a wild card at the Australian Open in 2011. Meantime, a successful junior career was still underway; in 2011 she was runner-up to Grace Min in the US Open girls’ event.
Garcia went on to capture 11 WTA singles titles from 16 finals, starting at Bogotá in 2014, where she defeated former No.1 Jelena Jankovic in the final. In 2017 she became the first player to win the two biggest Chinese events, the Wuhan Open and China Open, in the same year, in back-to-back weeks – results that propelled her into the Top 10 for the first time.
On September 10, 2018 Garcia achieved her career-high singles ranking of No.4 but her greatest victories were still to come. In 2022, her banner year, she was champion at the Cincinnati Open before achieving her best Grand Slam singles result as a semifinalist at the US Open. The biggest championship of her career followed at the WTA Finals in Fort Worth, where she defeated Aryna Sabalenka in the title match.
Garcia’s 2022 season also included a defeat of reigning No.1 Iga Swiatek in Warsaw and she was the only player to win titles on all three surfaces that year. She closed out the season back at No.4, for her second Top 10 finish.
Garcia also excelled at doubles, rising as high as No.2 in the rankings (week of October 24, 2016). Her eight titles from 19 finals included rousing wins at her home Slam of Roland Garros in 2016 and 2022, alongside fellow Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic. They were duly named WTA Doubles Team of the Year.
“Congratulations to Caroline for her outstanding career in both singles and doubles,” said Portia Archer, CEO of the WTA.
“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.”
In 2019, Garcia was a member of the French team that captured the Billie Jean King Cup trophy and she represented France at the Olympic Games in Rio and Paris. In 2023 she was the Tour leader for aces served – 462.
She leaves the sport with a win-loss record of 472-365 and career prize money of more than $18.7 million.
US OPEN
Monday, August 25, 2025
New York, New York, USA
Caroline Garcia
Press Conference
K. RAKHIMOVA/C. Garcia
6-4, 4-6, 6-3
THE MODERATOR: Caroline, congratulations on everything.
CAROLINE GARCIA: Thank you.
THE MODERATOR: If you would, just reflect on the match in relation to the day.
CAROLINE GARCIA: Yeah, obviously it’s not really easy to step on the court when you don’t know it’s your last match or if you win maybe you have another last match. 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 US Open.
THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.
Q. What are the emotions you’re feeling right now?
CAROLINE GARCIA: No, I mean, it’s kind of weird to say, but, you know, I’m very happy. It was a great run. I did a great thing on court, and I went until what I could achieve. You know, obviously you can always achieve more, and I was dreaming of achieving more. But I’m very happy and in peace with my decision to move forward with my life and close the chapter of being a tennis player.
Q. Specifically, what were some of the things that led you to this decision?
CAROLINE GARCIA: I think it’s many things, you know. The last couple of years for me were hard, were tricky, and kind of dark. I was able to, yeah, to pass them, to learn a lot. I almost left last year by hating tennis, and I thought it was the worst sport out there (smiling).
But I did a lot of work on myself to understand what was going on, and yeah, do one more season, leave it my own way, and building again my love for the sport and my passion for tennis.
You know, at one point competing and everything it takes to be at the top, I didn’t want to do it. I couldn’t handle it anymore, but I still love tennis.
Q. You have a popular podcast.
CAROLINE GARCIA: Yeah.
Q. How do you see your future in the sport that you love?
CAROLINE GARCIA: Yeah, I think I want to keep going the podcast. Obviously, you know, it’s little by little it’s growing. We believe we are doing some good things and giving back, sharing tips, sharing behind the scenes, sharing tips from the best players and coaches.
If it can help some young players out there, like, it would be the best reward I could get. Yeah, now I see a future for myself in tennis, and 12 months ago it was not the case.
Q. What is next for you, next week and then in the next six months?
CAROLINE GARCIA: Next week? You’ve got to give me some time. Not much planned. We have a wonderful wedding of my brother-in-law to attend, so some great emotion, more emotions.
But not much. We want to enjoy a bit, relax, stay in one place. Get out all the things from the suitcase for once and just be chill (smiling).
