Former world No. 4 Caroline Garcia loses in final Roland Garros to American Bernarda Pera

Former Top 10 player Caroline Garcia closed the book on her Roland Garros singles career on Monday with an emotional 6-4, 6-4 loss to American Bernarda Pera on Court Suzanne-Lenglen.

The French favorite, now 31 years old, announced her imminent retirement on the eve of the tournament, though she will also compete in "a few" more tournaments this year, including in doubles in Paris with compatriot Diane Parry. After several seasons plagued by injury and inconsistency, most notably a break in 2022 for a foot injury and a mental health sabbatical in 2024, Garcia wrote on social media that "it's time to say goodbye."

"After 15 years competing at the highest level, and over 25 years devoting almost every second of my life to this sport, I feel ready to turn the page and open a new chapter," Garcia said. "That said, it's not quite over yet. I still have a few tournaments to play. The first one, at home, at Roland Garros."

Garcia came into the tournament, her 14th consecutive main draw at Roland Garros, ranked No. 144 with a 3-6 win-loss record on the season. Her most recent match came before Monday came in March, a 7-5, 6-2 loss to Iga Swiatek in the second round at the Miami Open.

Garcia turned professional in 2011, and led Maria Sharapova 6-3, 4-1 in Paris' second round as a 17-year-old wild card that year. She went on to lose that match, 3-6, 6-4, 6-0, but famously earned praise from Andy Murray, who wrote in a viral social media post that she'd be "No. 1 in the world one day."

While she never reached that perch, she did reach world No. 4 in singles and world No. 2 in doubles. In the former, Garcia won 11 career titles, including the 2022 WTA Finals, and in the latter, captured eight career trophies including two at Roland Garros with fellow Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic.

In 2017, Garcia won titles in Wuhan and Beijing and vaulted into the Top 10 at year’s end, and five years later, had a rebirth at age 29. She won four titles that season, on all three surfaces, including the year-end championships. She also reached the semifinals of the US Open that season in her best-ever singles run at a Grand Slam event.

In her pre-tournament press conference, Garcia said she hopes to play the other two majors this year, Wimbledon and the US Open, as well as the inaugural WTA grass-court event at the historic Queen's Club.

"I'm at peace with my decision. I was happy to share the decision, and, to be honest, not to hide it anymore," she said.

"I love tennis. I will always love tennis. And then with everything that you need to do to be a top-level athlete like trips, physio, recovery, off-court, on-court sessions, I don't have the strength anymore to do everything. I can't do it anymore.

"It happened slowly by surely, but I'm more and more proud about what I have achieved on court, and so all is well for me."