ITF

18 Winter 2021 ITF World "It is the final season that I wanted," said Suarez Navarro, who competed for Spain at the 2004 Junior Billie Jean King Cup by BNP Paribas Finals and at the ITF World Junior Tennis Finals two years earlier. "I had a really good year, much better than I could have imagined. I have felt the love of the people in every tournament, on every centre court and from the other players also. "For me, it was so difficult at the beginning of this year and last year as I was fighting. You never know if you'll heal or recover, and it was a long time with some really tough moments, but now I am feeling really good. "I didn't want people to remember my name for finishing my tennis career due to cancer. I wanted to prove to myself that I could still achieve and retire on my own terms. It became a personal challenge and it has been a great goodbye. "I have really appreciated everything and it was so special that after a lot of years the Billie Jean King Cup Finals was my last tournament as I was always very proud to represent Spain." It was indeed a compelling campaign and her most precious recollection came at Wimbledon in July, against world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty on Centre Court. Suarez Navarro succumbed 6-1 6-7(1) 6-1, although the symbolic nature of the occasion rendered the result somewhat irrelevant. In the clash's aftermath, Barty referred to her opponent as "a hell of a competitor and a hell of a fighter", while it was an experience which certainly resonated with Suarez Navarro. "There are so many special moments from 2021 but I really enjoyed that match," she added. "The atmosphere on Centre Court, against Ash Barty, the world No. 1, was so special for me. It was a lovely gift." Broadening that conversation, requesting the highlight from such a stellar career does not seem to do the sheer volume of high points justice, although there is one notable staging post which springs immediately to Suarez Navarro's mind when pressed. "If I have to choose one, maybe I would choose Roland Garros in 2008," she added. "I navigated qualification and in my first Roland Garros, and my first Grand Slam main draw, I played on Centre Court against Amelie Mauresmo, a local player. "The atmosphere was amazing. I made the quarter-finals and this Roland Garros was the first time that people started to know me and started to know how I play. It was one of the best moments." When Suarez Navarro reminisces, she often references the impact of people. This encompasses those who have consistently offered support from the stands as well as those who have proven an enormous source of comfort during the turbulence of the last year. "I will miss many things," said Suarez Navarro. "But the thing I will miss most is the fans as they make a competition different. The atmosphere when they support you is amazing, as is the feeling they have given me this past year. "The competition is also something I will miss. Winning matches, learning from the ones you lose, tennis is just a really beautiful sport. "For now, I want to relax, disconnect and Above Suarez Navarro at Wimbledon this year Right The United States team showed their respect for Suarez Navarro at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals

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