Spain’s Garbine Muguruza has said she sympathizes with world No.1 Simona Halep after she crashed out in the first round of the US Open.
Halep became the first top seed in the Open Era to lose in the first round of the women’s tournament after being brushed aside by Kaia Kanepi in straight sets. The loss followed a positive summer campaign on the North American hard court’s. Halep won the Rogers Cup followed by reaching the final of the Cincinnati Open. Reflecting on her early exit, the 26-year-old admitted that she finds it difficult to find her game in New York.
“Maybe the noise in the crowd, the city is busy, everything together,’’ Halep said during her press conference. “I’m a quiet person maybe I like smaller places. I don’t really feel 100 per cent on my game when I step on the court here.”
The woes of the Romanian are ones all too familiar for Muguruza. Her first four appearances at Flushing Meadows saw the Spaniard win only two matches. It wasn’t until last year that she had a breakthrough with a run to the fourth round. In total she has only ever won six matches at the US Open, including her 6-3, 6-0, win over China’s Zhang Shuai on Monday. To put this into perspective, at her second worst performing grand slam (the Australian Open) she has won 14 matches.
“I really feel for her way when she says that, because me, at the beginning, for the first four years, I didn’t almost get past the first round.” Muguruza said in response to Halep’s comments. “I was always there and I didn’t really understand what was happening.
“This (the US Open) is a little different than other tournaments, but I’m learning to handle that better because I really want to go far in the tournament.
“I feel like people love it or people don’t like it. It’s black or white a little bit.”
So how did Muguruza manage to overcome her US Open nightmares? For her, it didn’t involve changing her fitness program or adjusting her mental approach to the game. Instead, she chose to take the route of an introvert whilst in New York.
“I try not to spend a lot of time outside. There are a lot of people, there is a lot of noise. I always try to be in calm places. I’m happy to go to the park, but I don’t do a lot of shopping.” She explained.
“I do spend a lot of time in the hotel, at this tournament in particular. But that’s my way.”
Muguruza is seeded 12th in this year’s draw. Leading up the tournament, her offensive on the tour has been halted by an arm injury. Her win over Shuai was only the second competitive match she has played since Wimbledon.
“I feel I’m trying to be realistic, not trying to set tough goals, even though I always expect myself to go out there and perform well.” She concluded.
In the second round, Muguruza will play Czech qualifier Karolína Muchová.