The COVID-19 pandemic and the uncertainty of the WTA calendar encouraged American Nicole Gibbs to begin the next chapter of her life and end her tennis career.
The former world No.68 Gibbs made the big decision when the coronavirus started canceling tennis tournaments last spring, but it took the 27-year-old one year to become ready to share the information with the world:
I knew it was unlikely I would ever play professional tennis again on the day that Indian Wells was cancelled in March. Yet, it’s taken me nearly a year to process that reality in a way that I felt prepared to share publicly.
The current chaotic situation in the sport made Gibbs realize it was time to move on:
Facing down the barrel of an uncertain tour landscape for the coming years and a growing awareness that I was ready to move on to the next chapter, I reenrolled to finish my one remaining year at Stanford.
So, what’s next for the American? Gibbs sent out applications to seven law schools with the intent to enroll this fall. Her biggest goal is to work in public service, “to give voice to those who are institutionally silences or sequestered to the margins of society.”
Wearing a skeleton costume, Gibbs married her long-time partner Jack Brody on Halloween in 2019. That same year she went through a major health scare, as a routine teeth-whitening dentist appointment discovered a cancer in her mouth. Luckily, the treatment was successful and Gibbs cured the disease.
The last professional tennis match that Gibbs played was an opening round loss to Shelby Rogers at the Oracle Challenger Series in Indian Wells in March 2020.
NOOO 😢😢😢
I’ll miss Nicole…a great person on and off the court!
Wishing her the best for the next chapter of her life and sending her ♥️!