Garbiñe Muguruza has transitioned from WTA Finals champion to tournament director, overseeing the event as it takes place at Indian Wells this week.
A new role at Indian Wells
The former world number one, who won the season-ending title in Guadalajara in 2021, is now managing the logistics of the tournament. Muguruza, who retired from professional tennis two years ago, told Tennis Channel that the event relocated to the Indian Wells Tennis Garden after organizers determined that the previous location in the Middle East no longer offered a secure environment.
“For obvious reasons, we are here,” Muguruza said in an interview with Tennis Channel. “We didn’t feel like it was safe anymore in the Middle East and we are very happy to be in Indian Wells. We love this place, it is one of the favorites for the fans, the players, and the staff. Everyone loves it.”
Perspective from behind the scenes
Muguruza said that her experience as a player provided little insight into the operational complexity required to host a professional tennis tournament. She admitted that during her career, her focus was strictly on training and competition, leaving her unaware of the administrative burden involved in event management.
“As a player, you know very little,” she told Tennis Channel. “You are focused on your thing, on playing and training. When you retire and see what happens behind the curtain, you understand the magnitude of organizing events like this. It is much more work than I imagined.”
This background now informs her approach to player relations. Because she remains close in age to many of the current competitors, she finds it easier to anticipate their needs and maintain open communication.
“We are in the same generation,” Muguruza said. “I can look them in the face and know what is coming, what request they are going to make. I am happy that the players feel comfortable talking to me, that they can come to me for anything, and to be able to contribute something to the WTA team.”
Life after professional competition
The transition to her new role has also coincided with personal changes, including her recent motherhood. When asked to compare the difficulty of managing a tournament against the demands of raising a child, Muguruza identified the latter as more rigorous.
“I think changing diapers,” she told Tennis Channel. “It is more difficult because it does not consist only of changing them, there are a few additional steps.” She added that she is currently enjoying the time with her family and expressed admiration for mothers who continue to compete on the professional circuit.
Despite her high-intensity career, which included two Grand Slam titles and reaching the top of the WTA rankings, Muguruza stated she does not miss the pressure of competition. She described her current demeanor as more flexible and relaxed compared to the perfectionism she maintained as an athlete.
“Now everything is much calmer and I am enjoying not having to compete,” she said. “What I take from my career is the discipline, doing things as well as possible, the concentration, and focusing on what I have to do to improve this tournament. But I don’t miss competing, I already did it a lot and I’m not looking for more confrontations.”
Tournament outlook
As the tournament progresses this week, Muguruza remains a visible presence in the stands. She said that she is content to observe the matches from a spectator’s perspective, marking a distinct shift from her previous life on the court.
“As a player, I was demanding, perfectionist, and very hard on myself,” she told Tennis Channel. “As a director, I am much more relaxed, flexible, I am calm, and I smile. I am simply happy to be here, to watch the matches from the stands and not from the court.”
Keep reading
