At the Brisbane International, Garbine Muguruza is hoping third time’s a charm.
Two years ago, the rising Spanish star turned an ankle before she played her first match here, then last year she retired midway through her opening match on Pat Rafter Arena against unheralded Varvara Lepchenko.
“This is the third time, which means I’m going to make it … or at least finish my match,” a smiling Muguruza said.
While she arrives back in Queensland as a grand slam champion, having won the French Open in June, she finished the year in questionable form, going 13-11 after Roland Garros and dropping from No.2 to No.7 in the world.
That rollercoaster, however, is behind her, she says. Now, it’s all about what lies ahead.
“All I’m thinking about now is 2017,” she said. “I just want to go out there and see what happens, no expectations. My mindset is very simple.”
The 23-year-old has a tough first ask as the tournament’s No.4 seed, facing off against fellow major champion and home favourite Sam Stosur on Monday.
When Stosur’s chip was selected during the draw ceremony to face Muguruza, groans came from those attending in the room.
“I think it’s a tough first round,” Muguruza said. “Stosur is always a difficult opponent and she’s here at home. It’s going to be a good match, for sure. She’s very powerful.”
They have split their previous two matches, Stosur winning in Madrid in 2014 while Muguruza beat the Australian 32-year-old in the semifinals in Paris en route to her maiden major title last year. It will be their first meeting on a hard court.
Muguruza arrives again this year with coach Sam Sumyk in tow. He helped Victoria Azarenka, this event’s absent defending champion (she had a baby last month), to two Australian Open titles and a world No.1 ranking, and the two have grown to know how to handle the ups and downs of Muguruza’s power-packed tennis.
“When you’re younger, everything feels like a drama,” Muguruza said, cracking another smile. “It’s life or death. But in time, you realise it’s not at all like this. I’m trying to approach it like that. Every year, I trust myself more and know how to handle myself.”
Against Stosur, Muguruza will look to attack the Australian’s weaker backhand side and move forward in the court. For Stosur, it’s about serving big and consistent as well as getting as many looks at her gargantuan forehand as possible.
“It’s going to be hard,” Stosur said, who is now coached by former Australian player Josh Eagle.
“She’s had a fantastic year. It’s going to be a really big test for me, but I’m assuming she feels the same way against me. It’s what you want going into the start of the year. I just want to get out there and play well.”
And while Muguruza is quite aware that most of the Brisbane crowd will be pulling for her home-soil foe, she says there is nothing quite like the Australian summer swing on the rest of the WTA Tour.
“In Australia, when the summer comes, it’s like, ‘Summer tennis’,” she explained, eyes brightening. “Everyone here is so excited for the season of tennis to start. I see everywhere here, advertising for the Australian Open or for Brisbane. The environment feels a lot different. I love it.”
Watch Muguruza take on Stosur on Pat Rafter Arena on Monday. Tickets still available via Ticketek.