“I put myself under a lot of pressure,” Garbine Muguruza reflects on a difficult 2022 season

Muguruza says that ranking is no longer 'longer', only wants to 'enjoy' time on-court and win trophies


“I put myself under a lot of pressure,” Garbine Muguruza reflects on a difficult 2022 season

Garbine Muguruza (via Getty Images)

After finding it difficult to string together strong results, Muguruza watched her ranking slip significantly, which had a very bad impact on her camp. It’s not working because she was placing too much pressure on herself to start winning. She isn’t getting any wins and she isn’t having fun. With four losses in a row, Garbine Muguruza has had a poor start to the 2023 season.

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With first-round exits in the Australian Open, Adelaide International 1, Adelaide International 2, and Lyon Open, the former World No. 1 has nothing to do but give her best moving forward. Muguruza is shifting her focus from pursuing points to once again just enjoying tennis as she looks for playing her best and recovering.

Her early exits in this year’s WTA tournaments are no match for her tenacity and dedication. The two-time Grand Slam champion aims to remain in the Top 100 rankings and win a match in 2023. Regarding her progress and previous mindset, Muguruza said, “I’ve had so many moments in my career where I’ve been so high, and other moments when I’ve not been so high. It’s a process of trying to get back up there.

She also elaborated on the need to stay focused and humble. The former World No. 1 also expressed how transient the sport was, “With tennis, one week it can go wrong, then next week it can go well…I think experience helps me to stay calm in the not-so-good moments when I haven’t been playing as well or results haven’t followed.” For her, finding joy in the sport again and taking trophies back home are more important than the rankings.

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Also read: Tracy Austin reveals the crucial factors that made Aryna Sabalenka Australian Open champion

Garbine Muguruza to play against Karolina Pliskova at Abhu Dabhi Open 2023

Garbine Muguruza and Karolina Pliskova
Garbine Muguruza and Karolina Pliskova (via Getty Images)

The 2023 Abu Dhabi Open’s opening round will feature a battle of the former World No. 1 players Karolina Pliskova versus Garbine Muguruza. Muguruza had a standout 2021 season, but she was unable to duplicate those results in 2022. Her problems have persisted this year as well; the Spaniard has yet to earn a single triumph.

Both players suffered significant losses in the opening 2023 matches. While Muguruza has not won a single match in 2023, Pliskova reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Open. In head-to-head matches, Pliskova leads with 9 wins over Muguruza’s mere two. Muguruza’s less-than-excellent form and Pliskova’s much better streak puts the latter in a much better position to win the match.

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