Wimbledon champion who married fan that stopped her in the street has incredible new life - The Mirror

Former world No. 1 Garbine Muguruza has had a whirlwind romance with the man she met during a walk in New York City, with the happy couple recently making a major announcement

Life has transformed dramatically for former world No. 1 Garbine Muguruza following her marriage to a fan she met on the street. A great deal can change in 12 months, and that's particularly true for the tennis star who left the sport to wed the man of her dreams.

Muguruza has seldom experienced a quiet moment since meeting future spouse Arthur Borges in 2021 and getting engaged just two years later. The Wimbledon and French Open champion has herself described the chance meeting with her future partner as "a total movie."

And one of the most distinctive love stories in sport has continued to blossom ever since. Muguruza, who celebrated her 32nd birthday on Wednesday, declared her retirement from tennis in April 2024 in order to focus on beginning a family.

Wedding anniversary

It wasn't long after Muguruza's retirement that she and Borges exchanged vows in Marbella back in October 2024. The ceremony took place one year after Borges proposed, and that hasn't been the only major event in their lives since then.

This week marked their first wedding anniversary since getting married, and the tale of their initial meeting is nothing short of the Hollywood standard. And both partners deserve recognition for shooting their shot while Muguruza was preparing for a match at the 2021 US Open.

"My hotel was close to Central Park and I was bored, so I thought I should go for a walk," she once recounted. "I go out and I run into him on the street. Suddenly, he turns and says, 'Good luck at the US Open.' I was left thinking, 'Wow, he's so handsome.'".

Borges obviously didn't think Muguruza was half bad either, and the rest is history. The pair are completely aware of just how extraordinary their tale truly is.

"It's a total movie," she said. "I knew I would marry him even before he asked me. When we met, it was love at first sight and we realised very quickly that we were an ideal couple."

Baby news

It was earlier in October that Muguruza and Borges revealed they were expecting their first child together. Almost exactly four years after their chance encounter in Manhattan, the delighted couple are now preparing to become a family of three.

Muguruza shared the news on Instagram, delighting some of her sporting colleagues. She posted three polaroid snaps displaying her growing baby bump, with the simple caption "Familia."

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka responded with a heart-eyes emoji and the words: "Congratulations! So happy for you." Tennis stars Elina Svitolina, Sloane Stephens and Carolina Garcia were also among those offering their congratulations.

Despite hanging up her racket more than a year ago, Muguruza continues to grace the tennis scene, serving as an ambassador for Rolex and other brands. This is alongside her frequent holidays, with her and Borges soaking up the sun in Turkey over the summer.

Muguruza is also dipping her toes into broadcasting after taking on a new role with the Tennis Channel. She's stepped into the interviewer's shoes for a new series, getting up close and personal with some of her former rivals, and she's been a smashing success so far.

Royal treatment

Wimbledon champions are granted lifelong membership to the 'Last Eight Club', ensuring tickets to matches and exclusive hospitality at SW19. However, Muguruza and Borges were spotted rubbing elbows with royalty at this year's championships.

The duo exuded elegance as they sat in the Royal Box to watch the Grand Slam action back in July. Their seats couldn't have been more prime, with Muguruza and Borges positioned directly behind the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, during the women's singles final.

"Thank you Wimbledon for an amazing day," she wrote in the caption. "It was incredible to relive all the memories together."

Muguruza's partnership with Rolex also had her mingling with the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio, Roger Federer and Bjorn Borg at one point.