Carlos Alcaraz, Paula Badosa, and other tennis players react to Garbine Muguruza's retirement announcement

The list of Spanish Grand Slam ladies' singles champions is short. It includes Arancha Sanchez-Vicario with 4, Garbine Muguruza with 2, and Conchita Martinez with 1. In an era where sports and entertainment personalities tend to have long and splashy farewell tours or flamboyant retirement announcements, Muguruza's farewell from tennis was belated and bittersweet. Fans did not know they would never see her play professional tennis again after January 2023, but she confirmed that fact on Saturday when she officially retired.

Muguruza endured the ups and downs of the sport as any player does with a long tennis career. In the end, she left the sport on her terms after a prolonged break that fans hoped would reinvigorate her and bring her back to tennis. She will be missed, and many believe the International Tennis Hall of Fame will be calling when she becomes eligible.

Her Spanish compatriots were among the first to react to her retirement announcement on social media, but they were not the only ones.

Paula Badosa, Carlos Alcaraz, and Simona Halep are among the players who honored Muguruza on social media

Badosa idolized Muguruza. She said: You were the mirror where I looked at myself since I was little. Thank you Garbi for giving so much to Spanish tennis. It was a pleasure to share these years with you. Happy life, you deserve it."

Carlos Alcaraz congratulated Muguruza on her "great career" and encouraged her to "enjoy everything that comes now."

Conchita Martinez who served as Muguruza's coach for part of her career commented on a Billie Jean King Cup post of Garbine dancing before a match. Martinez said she "remembered this like it was yesterday."

Simona Halep wished Muguruza the best and congratulated her on her career. Halep is two years older than Garbine so she would share plenty of memories as the two were rising in the rankings.

It is the end of an era in Spanish tennis. Though prolific with men's Grand Slam champions, the women have been fewer and farther between. Who will pick up the baton from Muguruza?

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