While Garbine Muguruza admits she would be entering Australian Open 2018 in a slightly more cheerful state if not for the physical issues that curtailed her two lead-up events, the Wimbledon champion is pleased to be seeing daily improvement in her fitness ahead of Tuesday’s first round against French wildcard Jessika Ponchet.
As the top seed at the Brisbane International, Muguruza retired due to leg cramps early in the third set of her first match against Serbian Aleksandra Krunic. Then, as a wildcard seeking extra court-time last week in Sydney, the Spaniard granted a quarter-final walkover to Daria Gavrilova, citing a right thigh injury, just hours after a straight sets defeat of Kiki Bertens.
“It’s true, I would like to have played more matches. But you never really know how it’s going to start the year. I only played two matches, but I felt that my tennis was good,’’ said Muguruza.
“I don't know. I think sometimes you don't need that many matches. With my experience, sometimes you play very good, and you don't need 25 tournaments before (hand). Sometimes you need it … So far, I am OK.”
The third seed said she had been making good progress in recent days, while “a little bit shocked” to have been stricken in Brisbane by the type of paralysing cramps that she has rarely suffered before.
“I'm doing everything I can to be fully recovered. Yeah, hopefully I'm pain-free and everything-free once the tournament starts,’’ she said. “It takes a little bit of time, healing, natural process. It doesn't go in three days. But it's getting better and better.’’
Yet the player who spent four weeks at No.1 last year, and is one of six women who can finish the Australian Open fortnight in top spot, is not expecting to be 100 per cent physically. That condition, she insists, is rare.
“Honestly, I never feel I'm super-perfect in any tournament. It's true, when you have the Grand Slam, you even want to feel more ready. That's what I'm going through. I'm trying to every day improve, try to recover. I know I'm playing on Tuesday, so we see.’’
Boasting almost as many major titles (two: the 2016 French Open and 2017 Wimbledon) as she does winner’s trophies from the regular WTA Tour (three, including last year’s Premier 5 event in Cincinnati), Muguruza is a big-match player who thrives in the spotlight.
The 24-year-old plans to embrace her return to the type of environment she believes she was born for, and where she reached the quarterfinals 12 months ago in her best result in five visits.
“The feeling is excited because, you know, Grand Slams are the most important tournaments,’’ said the noted perfectionist whose toughest opponent can sometimes be herself.
“This is the ‘Happy Slam’ for a reason. Of course, I will be happier if I would come here playing more matches. But that's not going to put me down at all. I'm looking forward to start. I have good memories from last year. In general, I always have good memories from Australian Open. That's what I'm thinking.’’