WTA Madrid: Garbine Muguruza wants to take her audience with her this year
Garbine Muguruza (WTA No. 9) had recently retired to give her body some rest. At the home game in Madrid, she started with a win - and this time wants to approach things differently than before.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit:
Apr 30, 2022, 11:15 am
Muguruza started her home game with a 7-5, 6-2 win over Ajla Tomljanovic - and above all with an unusual frame of mind, as she explained after her victory. Namely: without expectations.
The 28-year-old had last served in Indian Wells, after which she paused to cure the minor ailments. Because, according to Muguruza: She trained and trained, but her body did not accept the training - sometimes this hurt, sometimes that. She explained to her team that they were taking a ten-day break. With success. Shoulder, leg, neck, everything is recovered. And the Spaniard fit for Madrid.
Muguruza wants to absorb the energy
The only WTA tournament in Spain usually always brings a lot of pressure, Muguruza continues, "you only have one chance to shine," she says. This year she went about it differently. "Just go out there, play the best possible tennis, and whatever happens, happens. Instead of putting this huge burden on me."
Muguruza also wants to use the audience for this. "I absorbed the energy of the audience much more than in other years," she continued. While this could otherwise cause nerves, this time play it according to the what-so-motto. "If they even cheer me on when I kick the ball into the dressing room, then it doesn't matter, does it?"
Can Muguruza continue to maintain this spirit? In round 2 she meets Anhelina Kalinina, after which an attractive duel against US Open winner Emma Raducanu could await her.