While her peers descended on the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center to play the US Open 12 months ago, Carla Suárez Navarro was back home in Spain, where she heard three words that changed her life forever: you have cancer.
"Last year on this day, I was in the hospital. The doctors tell me that I have cancer, so I need six months of chemotherapy," the Spaniard said Monday after a 6-2, 6-4 defeat against American Danielle Collins on Court 5. "I think the possibility was there that maybe I cannot play tennis anymore, maybe."
A former world No. 6, the 32-year-old from the Canary Islands intended to retire at the end of 2020, but those plans were derailed by both the global COVID-19 pandemic and her own personal health crisis, a diagnosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma. As she responded well to treatment during the fall and winter, Suárez Navarro said, she had just one thing on her mind: saying goodbye to tennis on her terms.
She's doing that here at the US Open and confirmed on Monday that this is her last professional tournament, unless the opportunity presents itself to represent her country at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Prague in November. Following last-ever appearances at the French Open and Wimbledon, Suárez Navarro, entered here on a protected ranking, also represented Spain at the Tokyo Olympics for a third time.
"Everything was so good from the first moment, everything was really good. I was able to practice a little bit in December, and I start thinking in December that maybe I can come back. Maybe I can play a few more tournaments," she said.
"Then I was in Madrid [at the Mutua Madrid Open in May]. It was so special because I was out in the tour for six months or more. I received a lot of love from the other players, and what I said before, all this year for me was a big gift. I really enjoy every day, every tournament. I was able to choose which tournaments I want to play again for the last time."
Suárez Navarro burst onto the scene in 2008, when she and her flashy one-handed backhand made the quarterfinals of the French Open as a qualifier at age 19. Six more quarterfinal appearances at Grand Slams followed, including two in New York in 2013 and 2018. When asked to recall her most notable match of nearly three dozen at the Open, she immediately responded with a moment that can only made here: a history-making evening against a major champion.
"If I have to say one, one match, I say the one I played in 2018 against [Maria] Sharapova on center court [Arthur Ashe Stadium] in the night session was so special. The atmosphere was amazing," said Suárez Navarro, recalling the moment where she ended the Russian's 22-match winning streak in US Open night matches. "I really enjoy that match. I really played really good. If I have to choose one of this tournament, that year I think I played really good matches."
While her 13th and final singles campaign is over in New York, Suárez Navarro remains in the tournament in doubles: she and Sara Errani entered the main draw as alternates on Monday following the withdrawal of Jelena Ostapenko—a fitting final chapter to a childhood dream fulfilled.
"I have dream when I was young, and it was to be a Top 10 player in the world," Suárez Navarro said. "I never won a Grand Slam. I never was No. 1 in the world, but this is so difficult. I know we see a lot of players winning Grand Slams, but is not the normal thing in a tennis player.
"The way I was during the tournaments, if I have to say one thing, maybe to be remembered... I know that my backhand is different, is special (smiling). But every day I was so natural, tried to enjoy it with the people, tried to be, I don't know how to say... be natural. This is one of the proud things for me.
"I really did everything I want in the way I want. I really enjoy all these years, even more this last year. I'm happy with the person and the player I have been during all these years."
