Four weeks as world No.1 has left Spain’s Garbine Muguruza hungry for more success in the future.
The 28-year-old held the top position between September-October this year. She achieved the milestone with the help of winning a duo of prestigious titles at Wimbledon and Cincinnati. Overall, Muguruza has won 47 out of her 68 matches played and has claimed over $5.4M in prize money. The highest earnings in a single season of her entire career so far.
“As a child it has always been my dream.” Muguruza told El Larguero about becoming No.1 “Being at the top is the best feeling, it’s great to have lived it, because being number two is not the same.”
Muguruza’s triumph at the top occurred during a roller coaster season on the WTA tour. A total of five different women has been No.1 with Simona Halep holding the year-end honours. Furthermore, each grand slam has been won by a different player with Sloane Stephens being the last to prevail at the US Open.
With consistency proving to be a factor in the women’s game, Muguruza openly admits that it is one of her weakest areas. Since winning Cincinnati in August, the Spaniard only managed to reach the semifinals in one out of five tournaments. At the WTA Finals in Singapore, she failed to progress beyond the group stages after suffering losses to Karolina Pliskova and Venus Williams.
“There are many players who want the (number one) position and then it changes. Before the Williams dominated, now there are about six players rotating.” She explained.
“The constancy is the important thing, but my personality and the way of playing are not constant, I am more temperamental.”
Despite the admission, Muguruza is determined to change things in 2018. When speaking about her potential improvements, she provided a comprehensive list. Being honest and critical of her current performance.
“I would like to improve my (tour) record. I would like to be faster on feet, improve the volley, serve.” She said.
In order to achieve her future goals, Muguruza tries to emulate some of the biggest names in the world of tennis. Outlining that she pays attention to the game of her rivals and tries to incorporate it into her own. Naming the Williams sisters as one example. Muguruza is the first player to defeat both Serena and Venus Williams in the final of a grand slam.
“I pay attention to the serves of the Williams sisters. They have a natural force, they burst the ball. No matter how heavy it is, it will be hard for me to match it. I focus a lot on Federer’s technique, which does not sweat. But also in the concentration of Rafa and the game of Djokovic.” She explained.
Muguruza will return to action in the first week of January at the Brisbane International.
