The former world No.4 bowed out of her 15th and final singles journey at Roland-Garros
©Clément Mahoudeau / FFTBernarda Pera bt Caroline Garcia 6-4, 6-4
‘Fly with Caro’ took its final flight at Roland-Garros on Monday as the French fans saluted one of their modern-day greats.
Just last Friday, Caroline Garcia announced that 2025 will be her last season, posting on social media, “Dear Tennis, it’s time to say goodbye.” The injuries, the trials and tribulations of life on tour have taken their toll.
The tears were flowing in the tunnel before Garcia headed onto Court Suzanne-Lenglen for a 15th consecutive singles campaign in Paris. World No.83 Bernarda Pera quashed a second set comeback to post a 6-4, 6-4 victory.
“First of all, I’d like to thank you all for coming here and supporting me during this match, which has been filled with emotions. I tried to do my best with what I had, I fought until the very end and it was a huge pleasure to play in front of you today,” said Garcia, addressing the vocal Parisian crowd.
“Since the start of the year, I knew it would be my last season and my last Roland-Garros. I hesitated for a while before telling you because I didn’t know if I’d be able to deal with my emotions.
“I have to admit that I’ve been crying since the start of the week, but I always played with my emotions, the good ones, the bad ones, and often, the stress and the wish to do things too perfectly stopped me - especially here, in Roland-Garros.
“I always gave it all and dreamt of winning this singles tournament – unfortunately, I didn’t succeed. All these joys and the memories will stay with me forever and this first part of my life – tennis – made me who I am today.”
On this exact day in 2011, three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray took to social media to say, “The girl Sharapova is playing is going to be number one in the world one day. Caroline Garcia, what a player u heard it here first.”
The former world No.1 wasn’t far off the mark at all.
Garcia has been ranked inside the top 5 in both singles and doubles. She has amassed 11 singles titles, including prestigious WTA Finals glory, as well as eight doubles trophies and 2019 Billie Jean King Cup silverware - it’s been some career.
On home terre battue at Roland-Garros, Garcia has clinched the doubles title twice alongside Kristina Mladenovic in 2016 and 2022. Within the singles sphere, the former world No.4 soared into the quarter-finals back in 2017.
"I can come back. I can ask to have access. What am I going to miss? I'll always miss the trophy, but that's just the way it is. If I'm depressed one day, I'll just come back and visit the locker room," she said.
"This morning, you see all your career passing before you... This is something I used to dream about when I was younger. When I was at the top, I dreamed of winning a Grand Slam and Roland-Garros. But there were always stronger players than I was at that time."
©Corinne Dubreuil / FFTGarcia’s popularity was encapsulated by Pera as the match-winner took to the microphone on court.
“It was such an emotional match,” said Pera, holding back the tears herself. “Back there (in the tunnel) we were both crying.
“Caroline is one of the nicest people on tour and I’m honoured to get to know you, spend time with you and share the court with you. I wish you all the best in your next chapter with your fiancé.”
The 31-year-old will compete in the Roland-Garros doubles alongside compatriot Diane Parry.
Then there are a few more events to tick off before ‘Caro’ can sit back and reflect on a standout career.
“I'm going to go to Queen's (London), because it's the first year that the girls will play, so it's a motivation for me. Then I would like to go to Wimbledon. Depends on my ranking, because I went down in my ranking. Depends if I have a wild card or not. And then US Open.”
ROLAND-GARROS
19 May - 8 June 2025
