Her life’s match point didn’t come on a tennis court but five years ago while she was strolling through Central Park, right in the middle of the US Open, when her eyes met Arthur Borges’. Three years after that chance encounter, the two exchanged a romantic “I do” in Marbella, surrounded by family and friends. And the biggest win in this tournament called life came on January 19, when the couple welcomed their first child and Garbiñe Muguruza fulfilled her dream of building a family with Arthur.
The arrival of Marcos, described as “a very long baby, but slim,” has somewhat overshadowed the major milestones of this exceptional tennis player, who is a Roland Garros and Wimbledon champion and former world No. 1. “Motherhood,” she tells us, “is incomparable to anything else. It’s the greatest.” That doesn’t mean she’s forgotten her passion for tennis. Now serving as co-director of the Mutua Madrid Open, Muguruza is juggling her professional role with motherhood. With her, nothing surprises: her champion’s mindset makes it all look effortless, which for the rest of us mere mortals feels almost impossible.
© Victoria MuñozBaby Marcos, already the center of Garbiñe and Arthur’s world.
“Marcos is a miracle… the pregnancy, the birth, the fact that he’s here. I don’t know how my body was able to create him… I look at him and think, ‘Did he really come from me, from inside me? Does he have both our DNA? How is this even possible?’ I’m still processing it, because it’s incredible.”
Garbiñe Muguruza
Marcos was born on January 19 and has just turned two months old. How has your life changed since then?
GARBIÑE: It’s been a strange feeling. The weeks seem to pass quickly, yet the days feel lengthy due to the numerous tasks to handle. But we’re thrilled. Marcos is a happy, healthy baby, already nice and chubby, and so, so good.
You chose to have him in Spain because of your roots, even though you live in Switzerland.
ARTHUR: At first, the plan was for him to be born in Switzerland, but we changed our minds about three or four months before the due date. We felt it was better to come to Spain because it’s more familiar.
G: The language is also a factor, and as a first-time mom, I really benefit from having family close by to help with all the questions that come up. Both of our mothers are present, and they have been a tremendous support.
And it’s always great to have the grandmothers nearby—they must be thrilled.
Yes, especially the grandmothers, because they’re the ones with the most patience and experience… and in a way, they’re the most excited to be with the baby and to tell us a thousand stories about how they used to do things in their day.
© Victoria MuñozMeet Marcos, Garbiñe Muguruza and Arthur Borges’s greatest blessing.
“At first, the plan was for him to be born in Switzerland, but we changed our minds about three or four months before the birth. We felt it was best to come to Spain because it feels more like home.”
Garbiñe Muguruza
Why did you choose the name Marcos? Had you already decided on it, or was it hard to pick?
G: Choosing a name was a nightmare—laughs—because I didn’t like any of them. And poor Arthur would say, “Okay, but what about this one? Or this one?” And I’d go, “No.”
A: I liked about 20 names. Every day I’d come in with a new one and ask, “What about this?” And every time the answer was, “No.”
Was it really that hard to find one, Garbiñe?
G: Yes, it was difficult because we wanted an international name. Since we live abroad, we wanted a name that was easy to pronounce in French and English, and that was short and uncommon.
A: For example, my mother gave me an English name, Arthur, with an “h.” When I go to England, it’s pronounced one way; here they call me Arturo… So we wanted a name that would be easy to say in French, Finnish, Spanish, and English. And most importantly, we wanted it to be a Spanish name. We have both encountered some difficulty with the recurring question, “Where are you from?” due to your diverse and widespread origins. “I was born here and grew up there, but my mom is from one place and my dad from another.” He will also be an international baby, but at the very least, we want it to be straightforward for him to identify as Spanish. He was born in Spain; he has a Spanish name; his parents are Spanish, even if they’re also Venezuelan and Finnish; and he’ll live in Switzerland. But at least he’ll have a strong Spanish foundation.
© Victoria MuñozLittle Marcos, the newest and sweetest chapter in their love story.
Pure Relief and Pure Joy
Garbiñe, what was the first emotion you felt when you held Marcos in your arms?
I was really exhausted at that moment, honestly. I felt relief and a deep sense of happiness that the birth had gone well and that he was finally here, healthy. You never really know how it’s going to be, and there’s so much fear and so many doubts. It took me a little while to process everything that had happened and that he was actually here, that shift of thinking… he was inside, and now he’s outside… Also, we hadn’t been able to clearly see his little face during the pregnancy because every time we went in for a checkup, he had his hands in front of it. So it was an intense moment, but like I said, I experienced it with a sense of relief.
And you, Arthur, how did you experience your son’s arrival into the world?
Honestly, I thoroughly enjoyed it. When he was born, they had to separate him from his mother right away and take him to another room to lower his temperature a bit and help him perk up, because the birth had been very demanding for him. They asked me to go with him and explained what I needed to do. So in the first 40 minutes of his life, I had the chance to hold him in my hands and do exercises to help him. It was something exceptional. And being part of the birth, seeing how everything works and how the team operates, was incredibly fascinating and powerful.
G: And he didn’t faint! I’ve seen so many videos where the dads pass out.
A: Well, we don’t really know—usually that happens if you’re standing up front, and I stayed behind.
© Victoria MuñozLittle Marcos is already gripping his first racket.
Was he a big baby? You’re both quite tall.
A: He was very long, but lean.
Two months in, how would you describe this chapter of your lives?
G: It’s a beautiful time for us personally. This was something we really wanted—we were looking to start a family. The initial weeks were somewhat tumultuous, but we are now establishing the baby’s routine, everything has become more stable, and we are filled with happiness. Honestly, the baby has brought us even closer; we’ve built our family. We are fortunate to spend this time together at home, the three of us, cherishing these moments, even if we aren’t getting much sleep.
A: I feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I’m so happy that, right now, I can dedicate 100% of my time to the baby and enjoy every second with him. Having the chance to watch him grow and be with him every single day is a beautiful thing.
Which of you is being the “brave” one during those sleepless nights? How do you handle the day-to-day?
G: We take turns (laughs). Arthur is such an incredible dad; he loves it. He has so much patience—more than me, I’d say. He’s great at calming him down. Sometimes I struggle with that because when a baby cries, you naturally get a bit nervous. But yes, we switch off on almost everything so we both get some rest, which makes the whole experience much more manageable.
© Victoria MuñozArthur is all smiles as he enjoys some quality time with little Marcos.
On Being an Elite Athlete
As an elite athlete, how was the pregnancy? Did you feel okay, or were there any setbacks?
G: I’d say it was good overall, though the first three months were rough—lots of discomfort, dizziness, and morning sickness. I’ll tell you this: as an elite athlete, you think, “A pregnancy? I’ve got this! With all the training I’ve put my body through, everything I know about my physical limits, my ability to read how I’m feeling…” But a pregnancy is a completely different ballgame!
A: You had a difficult time those first three months because the nausea was constant, and that’s something you just can’t control. But thereafter, everything was phenomenal.
G: Yeah, I didn’t have any weird cravings; I was able to eat well without being ravenous, and everything stayed stable and calm. The first trimester was tough, but it was smooth sailing after that.
“Choosing the name was a nightmare,” Garbiñe says with a laugh, “because I didn’t like any of them. We wanted something international that was pronounced the same in Spanish, English, French, and Finnish, but at the same time, we didn’t want it to be too common.”
Garbiñe Muguruza
What have you discovered about each other as parents that you didn’t know as a couple?
G: I already knew Arthur was incredibly patient, so that didn’t surprise me. But what did surprise me was just how many hours he wants to spend with the baby—he doesn’t want to leave Marcos’s side; he’d rather not sleep a wink. They’re totally inseparable.
A: I think it’s been a bigger shock for Garbiñe. We’ve both wanted this since we met, but I’m nine years older than her, so I think I was in more of a hurry—being a father has always been a huge dream of mine. She stepped away from her career, and it was the perfect timing; she got pregnant, and it all happened quite fast. What I’ve discovered is just how much strength she has. It’s a massive physical transformation, and after the pregnancy and the birth, this whole journey with the baby begins. For us men, it’s much easier because we stay physically the same—we aren’t affected by the hormonal shifts. I always knew Garbiñe was a strong woman, but seeing how she’s adapted to this new life has been deeply moving. Everything is changing forever now—our routines, our daily lives—because we’re parents for life. And she’s not just a mother; she’s keeping up with her professional life, too. She’s already started working on the tournament and is very involved. I truly admire her strength to do it all.
G: I also think Arthur has been around more babies than I have. Because of my career, I was constantly traveling and competing; I just didn’t have kids around me. I have a niece, but she was born recently. So, it was more of a shock for me to have to “get it together” once he was born. No matter how many videos you watch or how much you prepare, you get home from the hospital and it’s just: “Okay, figure it out.”
Have you dealt with a lot of first-time mom jitters?
G: Not many, really, because Marcos hasn’t given us any scares. He was born healthy and happy; he’s eaten well from the start and sleeps a normal amount, so there’s been no reason to worry. Well, at the beginning I was scared of holding him wrong—his little head, his arms… In the hospital, they kept telling me, “Don’t worry, babies are tough,” but you still get that nervous feeling. But now he weighs nearly 13 pounds—he’s a little champ.
© Victoria MuñozThe Ultimate Team: It’s clear that little Marcos is now the real prize for Garbiñe Muguruza and Arthur Borges.
A New Professional Challenge
How are you balancing motherhood with your new role as co-director of the Mutua Madrid Open?
G: It’s actually been good to disconnect from the baby-and-diapers routine for bits of the day, because that is just so intense. Returning to work is a positive thing, but you have to manage it carefully. The Mutua Madrid Open is coming up very soon, at the end of April, and it’s going to take up a lot of my time. It makes me a little sad because I don’t want to be away from Marcos, but at the same time, it’ll be good for me mentally. So, I’m just taking it as it comes, but I’m incredibly excited about the Madrid Open. It’s a massive opportunity, and of course, it’s even better being in Spain.
With this new career phase tying you more closely to Spain, will you be spending more time here? Have you even considered moving back?
G: We don’t know what the future holds, but for now, we don’t intend to spend more time in Spain than we already do. To be honest, we really like this Switzerland-Spain balance we have going on.
© Victoria MuñozThe tennis champion shares a quiet moment at home with her husband, Arthur, and their beloved dog, “Gordi.”
Arthur, does your work also give you enough flexibility to spend more time with the family?
A: It does, but right now I’ve decided to be at home with Marcos 100% of the time, partly so Garbiñe can focus on her job. We’re all going to Madrid as a family, but I’ll be staying at the house with the baby—though the grandmothers are coming along for support, so I might be able to catch a little tennis myself. Being able to step into this fatherhood role and put work on the back burner for a moment is a true privilege.
G: We were just talking in the car yesterday about how lucky we are to be able to spend 24 hours a day enjoying our son. Most people have to head back to work so quickly, especially fathers, and you end up missing so many moments.
Arthur says being a father has always been a dream of his. Garbiñe, since you were so focused on competing, did you ever actually visualize this moment?
G: I didn’t visualize it as much as Arthur did, because my life was all about training—motherhood was always something for “later.” Everything changed when I met him. That was when I said, “I’ve found the right person; now I can actually imagine a life beyond sports.” But I was already 27 or 28 by then. To be honest, motherhood wasn’t something I’d thought about for the last ten years; I was busy playing Wimbledon, Roland Garros… it wasn’t something I had planned for. But that’s how it goes with sports—you play and play, and suddenly you turn 30. For me, that was the moment where I went, “Okay, let’s make a plan. What do we want?” So yeah, that’s pretty much how it happened.
“I knew Garbiñe was a strong woman, but seeing how she’s adapted to this new life has been deeply moving. And she’s keeping up with her professional life, too: she’s already hit the ground running with her work at the Mutua Madrid Open.”
Arthur Borges A Miracle
© Victoria MuñozGarbiñe and Arthur are trading the world stage for their most rewarding role yet. For this jet-setting duo, life as a trio is the perfect mix of peace, joy, and a whole lot of love.
As a tennis player, you’re always chasing wins on the court and hoisting trophies, but Marcos has to be the greatest prize life has ever given you.
G: Yes, honestly, Marcos is a miracle. The pregnancy, the birth, the fact that he’s here… I still don’t know how my body was able to create him. I look at him and think, “Did he really come from me? Does he really have both of our DNA? How is this even possible?” I’m still processing it because it’s just incredible. It’s incomparable to anything else; it’s the greatest thing there is.
Arthur, you’re clearly head over heels for your son.
G: He sings to him, talks to him, plays with him…
A: I always knew I wanted to be a father, but now that I’m in it, I feel it deeply—the most important duty in my life now is being a dad, raising my son, and being there for him. I’ve achieved things in my life, but being able to invest all my time now into being the best father possible? To me, that’s the best plan there is.
© Victoria Muñoz
Can you tell who Marcos looks like yet?
G: Not even a little bit. I ask my mom all day long, “Do you think he looks like either of us?” and she just says, “Not yet, Garbi.”
A: He has very fair skin and dark hair, but he’s still such a baby.
G: His eyes are blue.
A: Somewhere between blue and gray, but the doctors say they could still change over the next few months.
You’re both so international and cosmopolitan—born in one place, raised in another, one of you traveling the globe, the other having lived in New York—what languages are you going to speak to your son?
G: That’s another one of our recurring debates! I’m going to speak to him in Spanish because it’s my mother tongue and it feels the most natural to me. We also feel like English is a must, and we speak it a lot between ourselves anyway. Since he’ll be living in Switzerland, he’ll speak French too. We both love languages and want to pass that on to Marcos when the time is right. And then, there’s the question of Finnish…
A: It’s my strongest language, but I actually speak to him in Spanish all the time. Since my mother is Finnish but speaks perfect Spanish—as do my siblings—and we don’t live in Finland or have plans to move there, and it’s such a complicated language, I think it’s better to speak to him in English. That comes very naturally to me as well. For now, I don’t think I’ll be speaking to him in Finnish.
© Victoria MuñozMeet “Gordi,” the couple’s faithful companion who is officially sharing the spotlight.
A Scene Out of a Movie
This August marks five years since that chance encounter in New York—a real-life meet-cute. Garbiñe, you’ve told us your version before, but I’d love to hear the other side of the story. Arthur, how did you experience it?
A: It all happened so fast. I stepped out of my office, and about 30 yards down the street, I saw two girls taking photos. Maybe five yards before we crossed paths, I recognized her. I’m a big tennis fan; I didn’t follow the women’s tour quite as closely, but I’d seen her in the Australian Open final. I immediately thought, “That has to be her, it’s US Open week.” As I walked past, I just wished her luck: “Good luck at the US Open.” I kept walking, thinking to myself, “Really? That’s the best you could come up with?” I felt like I’d totally blown it; I should have said something more. So, in a bit of a panic, I turned around, went back, and said, “Look, I’m a huge tennis fan. Can I get a photo with you?” I was incredibly nervous. She was trying to make small talk and asked me a few questions, but I just panicked and said, “No, it’s fine, thanks, bye!” and I ran off.
But Arthur, how is that possible? Didn’t you regret it immediately?
A: Oh, absolutely. On my way home, I kept looking at the photo. I posted it to my Instagram Stories and wrote something like, “So lucky to have met a Grand Slam champion.” But when she actually replied to my message, I couldn’t believe it! I was literally jumping and shouting in my apartment. The fact that she suggested meeting up the very next day felt like something straight out of a movie. It was a huge moment for me.
© Victoria MuñozThe Grand Slam champion and her husband, Arthur, are all smiles with little Marcos.
Garbiñe, if someone had told you five years ago just how much your life was about to change, what would you have said?
G: Honestly, I never could have imagined it. In 2021, everything just aligned—it was one of the best years of my career, and I found love. It wasn’t in my plans at all because I was so locked into the tournament. I mean, you meet people on the street all the time; taking photos with fans is part of the job. But for it to turn into something this serious, to fall in love and be committed from day one… it was truly love at first sight. We both just had this intuition that it was something significant. That’s what still surprises me—the “aim” we both had, in that sense.
A: I wasn’t someone who believed in fate; I’m generally a very pragmatic person. But I really did experience this as something destined. To be honest, I was at a point in my life where I had just gotten divorced two months prior, and the last thing I was looking for was a new relationship. I’d always wanted to be a father, but I’d never felt that “real” urge, maybe because I wasn’t with the right partner. Yet, two weeks after meeting Garbiñe, I remember already feeling like I wanted to have children with her.
G: Being together for three months felt like five years in any other relationship.
A: Within four months, I moved to Switzerland. I kept my apartment in New York for a year just in case, but eventually, I let it go because what we had was so serious.
“My life was all about training; motherhood was for later. Everything changed when I met Arthur. That was when I said, ‘I’ve found the perfect person; now I can actually imagine a life beyond sports.'”
Garbiñe Muguruza
It’s been an incredible five years by any measure.
G: It couldn’t be better. Everything has turned out exactly as we dreamed.
A: But like any relationship, we’ve had to learn how to live together and adapt. I stepped into her life a bit more than she did mine, obviously, because of her tennis career—that was a conscious choice. There were sacrifices too, like her adapting to having someone in her life 24/7. As a tennis player, you have to be somewhat selfish and focused entirely on yourself. It’s been a lot of work, but we’ve stayed united and motivated to make this work.
G: We’ve always been very clear with each other. We’ve never doubted our intentions or where we wanted to go—what we wanted our lives to look like in five years. We’ve always been on the same page.
Back on the Court
Garbiñe, it doesn’t seem like you’ve had much time to actually miss being on the pro circuit.
G: Not at all. I’m in such a wonderful place right now. Besides, I’m still very much connected to the tennis world; the only thing I’m not doing is playing. Between my roles as director for the Madrid Open and the season-ending Masters, I’m constantly scheming—thinking about the players, watching matches, following how the tournaments are trending, and seeing what needs to be done. All I’m missing is actually going out there and playing the tournament myself! (laughs). I did tell Arthur the other day that once I’m physically back in shape, I’d like to play again as a hobby—just for fun, to get some cardio in and get out of the gym. But on a professional level? No, I don’t miss competing at all. Staying close to the action and being part of these events is more than enough to scratch that itch.
© VICTORIA MUNOZGT,VM
Marcos is going to grow up in a tennis-centric household. How would you feel about your son following in his champion mother’s footsteps?
G: I used to think, “Oh, it would be so tough if my kids played tennis.” But now? I 100% want him to play. Something in me shifted the moment I saw him; I found myself thinking, “I think he’s going to be tall, he’s going to be an athlete”—I’m already playing out the whole scenario in my head. I’d love for him to be into sports, and he’ll definitely play tennis.
A: I play tennis every week, too. So, I think it’s only natural that he’ll be active. I’d like him to play an individual sport, but a team sport as well.
Where do you see yourselves five years from now?
G: Over the next five years, we’d love to grow the family. I have siblings, he has siblings…
A: I would love to have a little girl.
G: He was so convinced Marcos was going to be a girl… he was a little surprised! But we don’t get to decide that (laughs). Our plan is just to keep growing, staying together, doing family activities, and taking Marcos everywhere with us. We want him to be a “4×4” kind of kid—adaptable, ready for travel, and eager to discover the world. We’re big travelers, so that’s the goal: just staying on this same path.
CREDITS:
Note: This text has been translated from the original Spanish.
TEXT Marta Gordillo
PHOTOGRAPHY Victoria Muñoz
STYLING Leire Peña
PRODUCTION María Parra
HAIR & MAKEUP Elena Sánchez Polo
STYLING ASSISTANT Victoria Izaguirre