Garbiñe Muguruza, on the breakup of Alcaraz and Ferrero: “There have always been many changes of coaches. It is not usual to be the same player and coach for more than five years”

Garbiñe Muruguzathe only Spanish player to win the individual tournament of the WTA Finalsnow five years ago (2021), in Guadalajara (Mexico), faces her third edition as director of the event that brings together the eight best players of each season in 2026, which has started without the world number one, the Kazakh Elena Rybakina, and after a few previous days marked by some controversies.

The former number one in the world attends, from Indian Wells (United States), the EFE Agency, to which she assured that once she will cover her time in the offices and In the organizational aspect she does not rule out the track, although not as a coach. The distant option in the future of leading the Spanish team attracts more attention. “But not now; Carla Suárez is doing a great job,” he clarifies.

Question (Q): We are experiencing times of many changes in coaches. Juan Carlos Ferrero with Ben Shelton, David Ferrer with Casper Ruud, Paula Badosa has left her coach, Carlos Alcaraz did so at the beginning of the year… Are you not considering taking the court as a coach? Billie Jean King as coach or a Garbiñe and Badosa tandem, which would be very good?

Answer (R): “The truth is that there have always been many changes of coaches. There always have been. There are players who spend a long time with the same coach, they achieve it but it is not usual. It is not usual to have the same player and coach for more than five years. I believe that there is a good cycle and suddenly the player wants to hear a new voice, something new, a new vision and that is always why there are many rotations. That is why now suddenly there have been changes in top players. In the end it is a very small world. Let’s say that not everyone can coach to a ‘top ten’. So those who are capable of having that experience and wisdom are around and are familiar faces, who exchange a lot with each other.

As for me, I don’t see myself traveling like a coach travels. A coach travels the same as a player, almost the same life. It’s still too early for that and I don’t know if that will ever fit me but I feel like I’m doing very well in this more executive facet. On the other hand, the Billie Jean King Cup would make me very excited. It is an honor to be the captain of your team, of your country and that, when the time comes, because Carla Suárez is doing a great job, when the time comes, it would be something very nice to do. I have really enjoyed playing the Billie Jean King Cup, which used to be the Fed Cup. But I have always enjoyed it and it is something unforgettable to do.

The controversies of 2026

Q: Finally, the extra-sports situations have been put to rest, such as the criticism by the American Jessica Pegula of the Russian Mirra Andreeva and her coach, the Spanish Conchita Martínez; or the refusal of the Ukrainian Elina Svitolina to pose with Andreeva herself or the Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka; or the absence, at the last minute, the day before, of the world number one, the Kazakh Elena Rybakina, and the movement on the court has begun. How have you experienced all these situations?

A: Yes, there have been movements before the competition but now we are really looking forward to the tournament and the matches starting in a city like Indian Wells, which knows how to organize large events. Happy with the change of venue to this place and looking forward to competitions and matches. The first days have been a success, with a great atmosphere and so far everything is going very well. Great.

Q: Specifically, the matter with Conchita Martínez was surprising. Do you also, who was her coach and knows her well?

A: In the end they are conversations that each person has with their team. She obviously was out of line for us to listen in on any private conversations and I think in the end everyone has moved on and no one has taken it personally, so it’s all behind us.

From the slopes to the offices

Q: Five years have passed since your victory in this tournament. The only Spanish woman to win a WTA Finals. Third year in the organization and I suppose it will remember that every time this event comes around.

A: “I always relive 2021 and the Masters tournament when I am here. I have fortunately played the WTA Finals many times and I know very well the importance of this tournament. Already, in itself, how difficult it is to qualify and how difficult it is to compete. They are the eight best players and each match can be a final. It would be like the quarterfinals of any major tournament. The tennis you see is of incredible quality.

Q: Third year as director of the WTA Finals that you also share with the Mutua Madrid Open together with Feliciano López. Have you taken a liking to the offices?

A: The transition has been very good and easier than I thought. Being in the world of tennis is in my DNA and it has been very natural for me to be present in an executive way in tennis and also to be close to players. That is the important thing because as I have been a player I understand very well their needs, their faces, their sensations and learning a lot. It is a very interesting position to understand the quality of the tournament, the fan experience. I am very happy.

Q: It is planned that this edition and the next will be in Saudi Arabia. Finally he went to Indian Wells and in the coming years he will continue in the United States, in Charlotte.

A: I think the change has been intelligent. It was not a safe situation to continue in the Middle East and it was an opportunity to direct the tournament to the American market, a strong market, and knowing that the tournament will go to Charlotte for several years and this makes me excited because there are many events, many fans. And the good thing about this competition is that it takes many turns: I have played in Asia, in Latin America, in the Middle East, now in the United States. I like that. You keep moving and that makes the whole world enjoy the quality of this tennis tournament that it gives to its followers.

Q: Did the loss of Rybakina, world number one, the day before surprise you?

A: It was sad. I knew that she had physical problems since the Asian season and I knew that she was going to arrive a bit with discomfort, fatigued, she withdrew from the previous tournament. She trained to see her physical condition and assess it and she and her team made the decision not to compete. I was able to talk to her and she needed rest to recover from the ailments she had. Nor do we want anyone to play if they are not 100%, much less at a similar level and who could get injured and be worse. I hope he recovers well and has strength for Australia.

Q: Currently there is no clear dominator on the women’s circuit. Iga Swiatek, who was number one, has fallen in the ranking, Sabalenka, who was the strongest, is no longer the dominator of WTA tennis and Rybakina has arrived.

A: I see that there are many opportunities now. It is true that it goes like cycles. Someone who dominated at a specific moment, then everything is more even… I think Rybakina will remain for a while. But it’s all very interesting. It’s really difficult to know who is going to win because there are players who play differently, with many types of tactics, techniques, nationalities… I don’t see a clear favorite. Obviously, Sabalenka is the one with the most titles, the one with the most experience, but it is very even and that leaves you with intrigue in the tournaments, let’s see who is going to win. Everything is very even.

Bucsa, the only Spanish present in the WTA Finals

Q: Since you won in 2021 there has been no Spanish presence in the WTA Finals. Now Cristina Bucsa is in doubles. What is happening with women’s tennis in Spain? In boys there are appearances, such as Rafa Jódar, Dani Mérida, Martín Landaluce… there is Carlos Alcaraz… and in girls there has been no one that makes a difference for a long time.

A: We will have to wait for someone to arrive strongly or for one of the players who are there to surprise us. There are always duller moments or perhaps cycles where it doesn’t seem like there is anyone who is going to be ‘top ten’… for the moment. Spain has always been a world power and it is true that in boys there are players in the ‘top ten’ and not in women, but that does not mean we have to lose hope that in the coming years we will have a great player. There is a base, there are academies, there are professionals. They know a lot about tennis and patience that someone is sure to come from behind.

Q: Suddenly Spain qualifies for the final phase of the Billie Jean King Cup or there is an Olympic bronze in doubles… but there is no leading player. Paula Badosa has gone through a bad year, for example.

A: We see that there is talent and incredible results but no one takes the step of being among the top ten. But it is not for lack of knowledge or talent. We will see. Bucsa, for example, is doing a great job, taking steps forward, winning tournaments… let’s see how he digests those steps he is taking and what his direction is.