Garbiñe Muguruza is swapping match point tension for tournament planning, and she seems to like the new pressure just fine.
The two-time Grand Slam champion has been tapped as co-tournament director of the Madrid Open, a move that puts her at the center of one of Spain’s biggest sporting events just as she prepares for a very different kind of debut off the court.
Muguruza Steps Into A High-Stakes Leadership Role
“We strongly believe that leadership in tennis should be built from diverse, complimentary perspectives with equal voice and influence,” he said.
Gerard Tsobanian
Muguruza will share the duties with Feliciano López at a tournament that sits at the 1,000 level on tour and draws global attention every spring, meaning logistical headaches have never looked so glamorous.
The Madrid Open has had a prickly history with women’s tennis, and her appointment is being read as more than ceremonial because the event has, in past years, mistreated female players in scheduling and presentation.
Under previous ownership, women complained about worse court assignments, odd scheduling and even limitations on trophy ceremony speeches, incidents that left reputations tattered and players publicly unhappy with the event.
Those instances included the women’s final being slotted between men’s semifinals and an awkward ban on women’s doubles finalists speaking at their ceremony, episodes that drew sharp criticism from top players.
Why Her Voice Matters
Gerard Tsobanian, the tournament’s chief executive, insisted Muguruza’s selection was substantive, saying the organization wants leadership built on diverse perspectives and an equal voice, a line that signals real intent rather than window dressing.
Muguruza has been outspoken about the need to do better, and in announcing her role she said, “The Madrid Open has always been eager to be ahead, to make a step forward, to be a bit of a pioneer.”
For a player who spent four weeks as world No. 1, the move to tournament director is both a prestige play and a practical way to shape how women’s tennis is presented in Spain and beyond.
The assignment represents the latest in a rapid pivot for Muguruza, who formally retired from the tour in 2024 and quickly moved into commentary and tournament stewardship while preparing for life as a parent.
Her career on court included Grand Slam triumphs that defined a generation of Spanish tennis, and she went from beating Serena Williams at Roland Garros in 2016 to hoisting the Wimbledon trophy a year later.
Even after reaching the top, Muguruza felt the sport evolve and her own priorities shift, admitting there was, at a point, “an empty feeling a little bit” after major wins and the accumulation of professional success.
Balancing Family, Legacy And The Madrid Calendar
At the same time Muguruza takes on Madrid, she is expecting her first child in late January, a personal milestone that makes her public role more layered as she blends family life with a demanding tournament calendar.
She has said the Madrid job will be a step up from her WTA Tour Finals duties, with far more players and logistics to manage, but one she values because it is the most significant women’s tournament in Spain.
Muguruza still keeps an eye on Spanish talent, singling out 23-year-old Jéssica Bouzas Maneiro as someone “on the verge” of a breakthrough, and she has kept friendly ties with Carlos Alcaraz as part of a new generation she once watched from the stands.
She also reflected on how the modern game changed during her career, saying players now must be ready for quicker rallies, bigger serves and a different tempo, observations that inform how she might shape player services and scheduling.
For now, Muguruza will take a short break around the birth of her child, then return to work well before the Madrid Open begins on April 20, a reminder that motherhood and major tournament duties can coexist on a busy calendar.
She said simply, “It was stressful but beautiful,” summing up how top-level triumphs often feel like a strange mix of joy and exhaustion — a sentiment other champions know well.
Looking ahead, Muguruza’s role will be watched as a test of whether former elite players can affect meaningful change from the front office while maintaining credibility with peers on the court.
As the sport wrestles with venue politics and calendar choices, having a respected former champion at the table is a practical step toward better parity and more player-centered events in a sport that still has growing to do.
My Tennis Expert believes Muguruza’s move is more than symbolic; it is the kind of hands-on leadership that could help Madrid finally live up to its ambitions for both men’s and women’s tennis without drama or awkward cakes.
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Christoph Friedrich is a German tennis player and coach currently residing in Oakland, California. He began his tennis journey at the age of eight and has since dedicated his life to the sport. After working as a tennis coach and hitting partner in New York City for eight years, Christoph decided to share his knowledge and experience with tennis players around the world by creating the My Tennis Expert blog. His goal is to make tennis education accessible to everyone and help players select the best equipment for their game, from racquets and strings to shoes and overgrips. Christoph's extensive research and expertise in tennis technology make him a valuable resource for players of all levels.
