World No.8 Carla Suarez Navarro has spoken about her recent performance at the Australian Open and how it has motivated her during a radio interview with Planeta Tenis.
The 27-year-old reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open before losing in straight sets to Agnieszka Radwanska. It was the fifth time that Suarez Navarro reached the last eight of a Grand Slam since her debut at the 2008 French Open. In all of her five quarterfinals, the Spaniard failed to progress to the last four. Speaking about her most recent quarterfinal loss to Radwanska, Suarez Navarro admitted that she still has a lot to learn to compete alongside the best.
“I would not want that to define me, as a quarterfinalist, but after losing the opportunity to be in the semifinals makes you leave with a bittersweet taste”. She said.
“I miss competitive moments when I have bad feelings. Great players win games even with bad feelings, or competing not in the way they want. These are things I have to learn, some people are mentally prepared for these things and for others it is more complicated.”
Losing the last eight of a Grand Slam might dishearten some players. On the other hand the world No.8 still believes that she has the ability to one day win a Grand Slam title. The 27-year-old has reached the final at nine WTA tournaments, however, her only title triumph occurred at the 2014 Portugal Open. On the doubles circuit, she has won three titles with compatriot Garbine Muguruza. Nevertheless the recent triumphs of Angelique Kerber and Flavia Pennetta has given her inspiration.
“I really think that I can win a Grand Slam, the doors are open. Kerber has shown this week or last year with Flavia, there are many skilled players and I see me being one of them“. Suarez Navarro said.
Suarez Navarro has the talent to trouble her opponents, particularly on her beloved clay court surfaces. In 2015 she defeated a series of top-10 players, including Petra Kvitova (three times), Simona Halep and Ana Ivanovic. Speaking about her current presence in the top-10, she said that she was living her dream but in a different way.
“It is clear that over time you mature and grow as a player. If you are among the top ten players in the world, it means you are in a great form. My dream is intact from when I started, but it is now different. Before it was entering (the top-10) and now it is maintaining”. The world No.8 explained.
Suarez Navarro will return to action on February 15th at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
