Garbiñe Muguruza, more animated than ever in Miami

The Spanish Garbiñe Muguruza, who this Friday will begin her participation in the WTA 1000 in Miami against the Chinese Xinju Wang, acknowledged that having recently won in Dubai has accentuated his motivation and acknowledged that with the experience gained in his career he has learned to better manage his emotions during a match.

“With” age and experience I have learned to better manage emotions during a match; for example, despite having lost a serve, the match is not over “, indicated the Spanish tennis player. “When one is angry or overexcited, it is difficult to see clearly. I am learning to be more serene and calm,” he said.

Garbiñe Muguruza pointed out that having recently won in Dubai allows her to arrive “more motivated” at the Miami Open that will begin in the match against Chinese Xinyu Wang, in the second round. “A victory always helps,” said the Spanish woman at a press conference, currently thirteenth in the world rankings.

The Spanish player highlighted “the special energy” of the Miami WTA 1000, one of the first important competitions in which he participated in the beginning of his career and where, however, he has never managed to overcome the round of 16.

“For me, Miami is always an important tournament and it will always be worth getting on a plane and coming to play. The energy that is felt here with the Latin American fans makes it very special for me,” he stressed. He confessed that he has a special affection for the historic venue of this tournament until 2018, the center of Drandon Park, in Key Biscayne.

“Playing in Key Biscayne will always be a special place for me because that's when I received an invitation ten years ago and it went very well for me,” he said.

The new venue at the Hard Rock Stadium, in Miami Gardens, is also to his liking and the fast track of the tournament venue he likes, although the surface is an aspect that when playing does not analyze much, nor the winds that these days they are registered in South Florida.

Unlike other professionals who chose not to be part of the tournament this year, especially in men's singles, the last of them Andy Murray, the Spaniard said that in her case she did not consider overlooking the Miami event. Neither because of the covid-19 pandemic nor to better prepare for large tournaments. “If I thought like that, there are not many tournaments to play then,” said the Spanish, twelfth seeded and exempt in the initial stretch in the Miami competition.

“It is true that I feel that I have played enough already this season, that I have many games on my back, but it is something positive, I am happy and wanting to play,” she added.

In his opinion, the fact that this year the Indian Wells was not held in California (USA), usually the stop prior to the Miami tournament, It has not made a major difference in terms of preparation, adding that he has come with some advance “to enjoy the city” and meet with family and friends.

He stressed that for a couple of years he has observed a great variety of “very good players” on the circuit and that the top 40 “is much more even.”

“Any player is dangerous,” he stressed, noting that “different champions” are seen almost every week. In her case, she said she is happy with her game and how she is improving. “It is true that the rest is working for me. I feel that I am in a better position and I can have a strategy. So far I have played on very fast tracks and you have to take the initiative. It is an aspect of a very game that I have been working on since last year, “he said.

He reiterated that he always maintains the goal of winning a Grand Slam tournament, for which he serves as preparation for tournaments such as Dubai or Miami, but at the same time he confessed that he is “looking forward to going to Latin America”, where the energy is different and the people are ” more active and cheerful “.

The Chinese Xinyu Wang, guest of the organization, beat the Swedish Rebecca Peterson on Tuesday (6-2 and 6-2) and became Muguruza's first rival in the Miami tournament. It will be the second meeting between Muguruza and Xinyu Wang. The only one so far was in Shenzhen last year and ended with the Spanish player's victory in three sets (3-6, 6-3 and 6-0).

After winning in Dubai, Muguruza has raised the number of successes of his career to eight and was a finalist in Qatar and Melbourne in 2021.