The upcoming Billie Jean King Cup Finals will be one full of mixed emotions for one of Spain’s top female players over the past decade.
Carla Suarez Navarro is set to call time on her career at the new-look event, which has been revamped in recent months to put it more in line with the men’s Davis Cup. The 33-year-old has represented her country in 16 ties across 11 different year’s during her career. Since making her debut back in 2008, she has won 18 out of 29 matches played.
“Winning a competition like this would be very special, a farewell, a finishing touch to so many years of career, although it is not only that,” Suarez Navarro explained on Saturday.
“It is a team competition that you share with all your teammates, and this is much more special than winning an individual,” she added.
Originally the Spaniard had intended to retire before now but a cruel twist of fate changed those plans. During the final quarter of 2020 she was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma. An uncommon type of cancer that occurs in the lymphatic system. She subsequently underwent six months of chemotherapy before being declared cancer-free in April this year.
Determined to end her career on her own terms, Suarez Navarro returned to the Tour less than a year after first receiving the news she had cancer. She has played in three Grand Slams this season but has lost in the first round of all of them. However, at the Tokyo Olympics she scored a shock win over Ons Jabeur.
“The training sessions are going well for us (team Spain). If I am here in the team it is because I am available,” She said about playing in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals.
Given it being her final tournament, it could be forgiven to think that Suasrez Navarro will be taking it easy. However, that is not the case as she aims to end her career on a high. The Spanish team has recently suffered a setback with their top players Paula Badosa and Garibine Muguruza both pulling out of the event due to its close proximity to the WTA Finals in Mexico. Spain has been drawn in the same group as Slovakia and America.
“I have a lot of experience and well I will try to contribute everything I have learned in these years,” she stated.
Suarez Navarro reached a ranking high of sixth in 2016 and has won two Tour titles in Portugal (2014) and Qatar (2016). She has also reached the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam tournament seven times. In the doubles, Suarez Navarro peaked at a high of three and won three titles alongside Muguruza.
