When I made the decision to stop, it wasn't about my level of tennis," Garcia reflects on her journey in Cincinnati and discusses what's next

Eliminated by Muchova (7-6, 7-6) in the second round, Garcia delivered a committed match for her last tournament in Cincinnati. In an interview with the newspaper L'Équipe, the French player reflected on her decision to end her professional career at the US Open (August 24 - September 7), also noting that her two matches in Ohio were good tests before Flushing Meadows.

"When I made the decision to stop, it wasn't about my level of tennis. There were still good matches and the level was there. But to be present at the highest level, to remain competitive during very long seasons, it requires efforts that I no longer have the strength or the desire to make.

I no longer have what it takes to lead a life like that. The only thing I wanted was to be as well-prepared as possible for the US Open. And with these two matches, it’s well underway."

While the match was in full swing in the first set, the 31-year-old player alarmed the French supporters when she called the physio at the start of the second set:

"I don’t really know what it is," Garcia shared after the match. "When serving, I felt something in the hamstring and adductors. It had happened to me before, especially during comebacks after a long time without playing.

After a few days of rest and some care, it will quickly pass. Anyway, when you haven't played much, you know there are going to be things. Even after the basic preparation at the beginning of the season, you play your first two matches, and everything hurts. The shoulder is a bit stubborn, but that's how it is.