Garbine Muguruza has not officially retired from tennis despite her lengthy hiatus, and a recent video she shared on social media has fuelled speculation of a comeback.
Muguruza's last official match on the WTA tour was at the end of January 2023. She lost to Linda Noskova in the opening round of the Lyon Open, winning just five games.
That defeat stemmed from a poor start to last season in which she lost in the opening round of four tournaments she competed in. The Spaniard went missing for a few months before she issued an update about her absence in early April.
She revealed that she would be missing from the circuit for at least the clay and grass swings. Muguruza explained that she had been spending time with her family and friends and that tennis rankings were not her priority.
Last October, the two-time Grand Slam champion disappointed her fans when she admitted that tennis did not fit into her daily routine and that she had "no intention" of returning in the near future.
Muguruza received public support from compatriot Paula Badosa. It was only earlier this year, when she became unranked for the first time since turning pro, that she opened up about the hurdles facing tennis pros on a weekly basis.
Tennis fans have now questioned Muguruza's recent video clip, which she shared on her Instagram story, smiling while enjoying a practice session in the East African island nation of Mauritius.
The 30-year-old enjoyed a hit with an aspiring young tennis player at the One&Only Le Saint Géran luxury resort. Muguruza tagged LUX Tennis in the post, who, presumably, organized the trip.
LUX is a Spanish management company that has partnered with some of the world's most luxurious hotels to convey tennis services through professional tennis players and coaches. A sneak peek of Muguruza's practice can be seen below.