Resurgent Muguruza enjoys a milestone period

No one had a stronger and more sustainable start to the 2021 season than the Spanish Garbiñe Muguruza. The former number one secured his place at the Akron WTA Finals in Guadalajara by making four finals at the peak of his career this season and winning multiple titles this season for only the second time in his career. Combining a focus on his routines and work ethic with a healthier perspective on his results and career, the 28-year-old returned to the Top 10 for the first time since 2018 and enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career.

This is how the double champion reserved his place in Guadalajara:

Clearing books Melbourne finals, match points in Osaka

Muguruza finished 15th in the 2021 season and sought his first title after 2019 Monterrey. It had been more than two years since the two-time champion and former number one placed in the Top 10, and after a tough pre-season, the Spaniard wanted to get back on track.

“Tennis players never relax, whatever the round and tournament,” Muguruza said. “I feel like I’m taking a different approach now. I accept the fact that it can go wrong. I’m more open to adaptation, to uncertainty.

“Over the years, there’s starting to be an easier perspective that not everything should be taken too emotionally. Honestly, it’s a lot of experience.”

Muguruza’s letter of intent came early. In Abu Dhabi, after the 16th round of his opening tournament, Muguruza returned to Australia – where he had been a finalist in the Australian Open just a year ago – to march to the Yarra Valley Classic final in Melbourne. Tallying defeated Alison Van Uytvanck, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Sofia Kenin and Marketa Vondrousova, Muguruza advanced to their first finals then the 2020 Australian Open, losing to No. 1 Ashleigh Barty 7-6 (3), 6-4.

In the Australian Open, Muguruza continued his almost impenetrable form. In his first three matches, Muguruza lost just 10 games on the way to 16-semifinal defending champion Naomi Osaka. In his first summit, Muguruza dominated Osaka with two match points in the third set before the final champion won 4-6, 6-4, 7-5.

“In the beginning you never know [of the season] how you feel, “Muguruza said.” I’m happy with the tournaments I played. Also the Australian swing, I played, I do not know, nine, 10 matches almost in a row. It was good. It was a good test for me physically and mentally. I just go on the field over and over again and try to reach a high level. I’m pretty happy with my performance. ”

After consecutive finals in the Middle East, Muguruza won his first WTA 1000 title in five years.

In Doha, Muguruza made strong triumphs over Veronika Kudermetova, Aryna Sabalenka and Maria Sakkar to reach the second final of the season. Petra Kvitova defeated him in the final, winning 6-2, 6-1, but again Muguruza remained relentless and indifferent.

“Sometimes you work hard, you want it so much, it doesn’t help you,” Muguruza said. “It’s hard to explain, but I felt like it for a while [in the past] I worked hard, put all my effort. When I had to go to compete, I wanted it too. I got frustrated too early. In the end, I couldn’t let the racket talk.

“I feel that now, after that experience, I managed to stay a little calmer and just go to compete, probably with less expectations. I’m always there and always so excited. I just know myself a little better now to find ways to compete and not give it energy and desire, excessive I want to, probably come down the road. “

Arriving in Dubai, Muguruza led the tour in wins and finals, but it was still a matter of the champion’s trophy. Her moment finally came in Dubai, where she won the championships of Irina Camelia Begu, Amanda Anisimova, Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, Elise Mertens and Barbora Krejcikova. On the way to the eighth championship of his career, Muguruza lost just one set.

Muguruza would end the spring hardfield season tour with a leading 20-5 record, including a 5-3 record against the Top 20.

Injury stops the pace with clay, but the grass promotes a return to the Top 10

Injuries in the hard fields of his incredible start would make it difficult for Muguruza to prepare for the clay season. A foot injury forced him to retire in Charleston and retire from Madrid. Although the injury eventually healed, Muguruza’s pace had been interrupted. Roland Garros champion in 2016, Muguruza bowed to Marta Kostyuk in the first round this year.

When the tour turned to grass, the 2017 Wimbledon champion won 4-2 and reached the semi-finals in Berlin and the third round of Wimbledon, where he lost to Ons Jabeur in a high-quality, entertaining three-round duel.

After Wimbledon, Muguruza returned to the Top 10 for the first time since August 2018 and rose to 9th place.

Road to the WTA final, doubles

Road to the WTA Finals, doubles

Summer produces a rare second title in Chicago

The return to the hard fields of the summer saw Muguruza’s strong penetration into impressive form from the start of the season. At the US Open, she advanced to the 16th round only for the second time in her career, defeating Donna Vekic, Andrea Petkovic and defending finalist Victoria Azarenka.

Instead of returning to Europe for a respite after the US Open, Muguruza and his team decided to stay in the United States to train for the final weeks of the season. This decision was immediately supported by the premiere of the Chicago Fall Tennis Classic, where Muguruza won the title, beating Jabeur 3-6, 6-3, 6-0. The Chicago Championship was only the second time in Muguruza’s career that he has won multiple titles in a single season when he won it for the first time in 2017 when he won Wimbledon and Cincinnati on his way to number one in the world.

Champions Corner: Muguruza doesn’t take anything for granted at the Chicago Championship

“Getting to the finals is so hard. I’ve been involved for a while now and I know winning the champions is something very difficult,” Muguruza said in Chicago. “The chance to win four and I two is already a great sign, because it’s something you can touch. You can prove that hey, we’re doing a great job. Here’s the trophy, we’re doing well.”

Motivated Muguruza secures his return to the Latin American final

Watching his return to the WTA finals for the first time since 2017, Venezuelan-born Muguruza couldn’t control his excitement about the opportunity to play the first season-ending championships hosted in Latin America.

“It’s already exciting to be playing the WTA finals there whether I play or not, but I want to be there,” Muguruza said. – It gives me extra motivation to do my best in these last tournaments, and let’s see

“In my experience and every time I played there, the audience is so excited about any sport. They are so happy that there is an event in their country and you can feel the support. It’s full of people and they really cheer for you. And that’s something that “I’ve personally seen other tournaments that don’t happen, and they’re as big as the Masters. I know Mexico and the Latin countries aren’t disappointing in that regard. They’re going to be, like, came in there.”

Muguruza returned to the top five after Indian Wells and secured his qualification for his fourth WTA final. He finished the regular season with a record 36-16 and won two titles out of four finals.