Seventh seed Garbine Muguruza is maintaining a positive outlook on her form after being knocked out of the Australian Open by Coco Vandeweghe.
The French Open champion managed to only win four games in her quarter-final match as she succumbed to her rivals high level of intensity during her 6-4, 6-0, loss. Muguruza had only two chances to break her opponent throughout the match, but failed to capitalise on both opportunities. The one-sided encounter was one that took Muguruza by surprise after she defeated Vandeweghe in straight sets last year at the Cincinnati Open.
“I think she (Vandeweghe) played unbelievable. Three times we played in the past, she didn’t show this level.” Muguruza said following her loss.
“I think she played very good. Her serve, her shots were there. She barely missed. So pretty good performance from her.”
Since lifting the title in Roland Garros last year, Muguruza has failed to progress to the last four at three consecutive grand slam tournaments. There was a hope that this trend would come to an end in Melbourne as she progressed to the last eight without dropping a set. Whilst her bid was denied by the spirited play of Vandeweghe, the Spaniard has stated that she has ‘zero regrets’ about her performance.
“I have zero regrets about my performance. I think when you play with someone that has the power to disturb like this, to hit these kind of shots, and has a good day, I mean, it’s difficult honestly.” She explained.
Admitting that she is yet to regain full fitness, the Venezuelan-born player is satisfied with her start to 2017. This season Muguruza is bidding to end her trophy drought after failing to win a title of any sort since claiming her first major title in June. Prior to the Australian Open, she also reached the semifinals of the Brisbane International before withdrawing due to fatigue.
“I’m very happy. I think it’s a very good start of the year. I trained hard to kind of start well. You never know if it’s going to happen or not. So I’m pleased with the two tournaments I played.” She said.
“Even though I felt my body wasn’t 100%, and I didn’t know how far I was going to go here, but I think I went pretty far.”
Muguruza will return to action during the second week of February at the Qatar Open, a Premier-level tournament on the WTA Tour.
