MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Garbine Muguruza’s defeat within the 2020 Australian Open remaining left the Spaniard heartbroken however whereas she nonetheless feels that ache and emotion each time she walks onto Rod Laver Arena it has not dented her perception she will be able to turn into a Melbourne Park champion.
The former world primary, crushed by Sofia Kenin within the remaining two years in the past, comes into the primary Grand Slam of the 12 months as one of many favourites having gained the season-ending WTA Finals in Mexico in November.
“I really feel lots of feelings after I step into the Rod Laver court docket as a result of I used to be very near having this Grand Slam in my pocket,” Muguruza advised reporters on Saturday.
“I suppose I’ll must try and try as many occasions as I can.
“Yeah, why not do it again? Of course, it is sophisticated. You must put so many issues collectively. But I’ve completed it and I imagine greater than ever that I can do it again.”
The two-times Grand Slam champion, who was knocked out of the Sydney Tennis Classic by Daria Kasatkina on Thursday, stated it was vital for her to spend a while away from the court docket within the offseason.
“I believe you prioritize getting again the vitality, refresh the mindset and the whole lot,” she added. “It’s been a tricky 12 months with the whole lot that we have all gone via.
“I skipped Adelaide. I usually wish to play the primary match of the 12 months, however I felt like in these circumstances why not go to Sydney. I’m adapting actually, each week to what I really feel.”
Muguruza, who begins her Australian Open marketing campaign with a first-round tie in opposition to France’s Clara Burel on Tuesday, was additionally eager for the Novak Djokovic controversy to die down.
“I believe all this might have been prevented, like we have all completed, by getting vaccinated, doing all of the issues we needed to do to return right here in Australia,” Muguruza stated.
“Everybody knew very clearly the foundations. You simply must observe them and that is it. I do not assume it is that tough.
“I believe all of us need to transfer on from this and simply focus on the great half.”
(Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
