Garbine Muguruza has become the first player to cruise into the semifinals of the WTA Finals without losing a match since Petra Kvitova in 2011. This season the 22-year-old has produced one of the best seasons for Spanish Women’s tennis since the era of Conchita Martinez and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, elevating her towards the top of the WTA Tour.
The breakthrough season has resulted in some drawing comparisons between Muguruza and Rafael Nadal. The comparison may appear slightly unfair considering Muguruza is yet to win a Grand Slam title compared to Nadal, who currently has 14. Following her three sets triumph over Petra Kvitova, the Spaniard was asked if she thinks she can bring a sense of charisma to the women’s game like Nadal has to the ATP Tour.
“It is hard to say. I don’t know how people see me from outside, but I don’t want to be like a boring tennis player”. A happy Muguruza said in Singapore.
I know Rafa has an amazing spirit on the court and outside the court, so I’ definitely would like to be like this. I don’t know if I am like this, but I think i am a little bit”.
Recently the new CEO of the WTA Tour, Steve Simon, has expressed his desire to bring charisma to the women’s game in a similar way to how the men have done. Muguruza appears happy enough to follow in the footsteps of her male compatriot after calling Nadal ‘a great example’ for Spanish tennis.
On Saturday Muguruza will be the first player participating in the semifinals of both the singles and doubles competition since 2009. Partnering Carla Suarez Navarro, the Spanish duo stunned the third and fifth seeds to progress to the last four. Looking ahead to the task of playing two matches on Saturday, the 22-year-old admitted that it will be a challenge for her.
“It’s going to a challenge for me to see how much my body can handle, because now I don’t have a day off”. The 22-year-old admitted.
“It’s great to be in my position I think now, to be playing singles and doubles semifinals, but it’s going to be hard. I have to recover well and do everything possible to be ready for both matches”.
In the last four Muguruza will face 5th seed Agnieszka Radwanska, who finished second in the Red Group behind Maria Sharapova. It will be the fifth meeting between the two players this year. In their four previous meetings Muguruza has won all of them with three out of the four matches going to three sets.
