Garbine Muguruza visits friend Carla Suarez after cancer diagnosis: Better together

Garbine Muguruza checked in on long time friend, teammate, and tennis star Carla Suarez in Barcelona as she continues her treatment for cancer, publishing a picture of them both smiling to her social media account.

In September 2020 Suarez announced that she was retiring from tennis due to a Hodgkin Lymphoma diagnosis - a form of cancer.

A couple of months later Muguruza caught up with Suarez in Barcelona as she undergoes treatment that includes six months of chemotherapy, helping her friend keep her spirits up.

"So good to see you again," Muguruza posted on her Instagram, with Suarez replying: "Better together."

Carla Suarez' cancer diagnosis

Suarez and Muguruza have always been close, coinciding on the circuit and playing together as doubles partners, winning three premier doubles titles together and once making the semi final of the French Open side by side.

So when Suarez stunned the tennis world by announcing her retirement and the reason why on 1 September 2020, just days before the US Open, Muguruza already knew.

“When we spoke a few days ago when she gave me the news, I was, I think, shocked because I was expecting to see her in this tournament [The US Open]", Muguruza said at the time.

"You know, she’s such a nice woman, so sweet, so kind, so humble. When these things happen to these good people, I feel, like, so sad about it.” she said.

Garbine dedicated her first-round win to Navarro, supporting her friend all the way.

Outpouring of support for Carla Suarez

Carla Suarez, a two-time Olympian who reached World No. 6, was overwhelmed by the wave of support that came from the world of tennis, some of the biggest names in the game wishing her well including Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and many more.

Suarez played Olympic tennis at London 2012 and Rio 2016.

In London she gifted the crowd a first-round thriller defeating Samantha Stosur 3–6, 7–5, 10–8, and made the third round at Rio 2016, claiming voictory over Ana Ivanovic and Ana Konjuh.

Everyone is now willing her on to come through this latest challenge successfully.