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FEBRUARY 01: Garbine Muguruza of Spain looks on after losing her Women’s Singles Final match against Sofia Kenin of the United States on day thirteen of the 2020 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 01, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
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FEBRUARY 01: Garbine Muguruza of Spain looks on after losing her Women’s Singles Final match against Sofia Kenin of the United States on day thirteen of the 2020 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 01, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Two-time Grand Slam champion Garbine Muguruza has played in four major tournament finals in total. She recently opened about her last year’s loss in the Australia Open final against Sofia Kenin.
Currently, the Spanish-Venezuelan professional is in Abu Dhabi for the WTA 500 tournament starting from January 6. In its pre-event press conference, she talked about the top-seed of the first Abu Dhabi WTA Women’s Tennis Open.
Read More: Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams to Miss WTA Abu Dhabi, Sofia Kenin and Elina Svitolina to Lead Draw
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Garbine has met the 22-year-old only twice on a tennis court and has lost both the matches to Kenin. However, the current World No. 15 doesn’t shy from appreciating the talent of the young American.
Garbine Muguruza was one set up in the 2020 AO finals vs Sofia Kenin
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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 01: Sofia Kenin of the United States poses with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup after her Women’s Singles Final match against Garbine Muguruza of Spain> on day thirteen of the 2020 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 01, 2020, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
The Happy Slam final was the 27-year-old’s biggest game of last year. So, when asked whether she looks back at it with fondness or one that slipped away, she finds it difficult to answer.
Muguruza said, “It is a tough one to answer because I feel like Sofia played amazing. She played amazing in a certain time of the match where she was down and she came back and played amazing.”
The Spanish cleared the first set easily, leading with the score at 4-6. But little did she expect from the American to change the dynamics of the match in the next two sets. However, the reigning champion of Melbourne Park took control and won the title at 4-6, 6-2, and 6-2.
“I felt like I had it under control for a certain moment. And then she came back and played incredibly,” the former World No. 1 added. The American became the youngest American after Serena Williams to win a Grand Slam.
Looking back, the Spanish could only think about her opponent. “So it says yeah, it’s kind of like a tough match. She’s a tough match, I say,” Garbine concluded. Take a look at the highlights of the match here.
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Garbine and Sofia to compete for the WTA Abu Dhabi title
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Garbiñe Muguruza of Spain returns the ball during her Women’s Singles first-round match against Nao Hibino of Japan on Day Two of the 2020 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 1, 2020, in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Last year is history, and the duo is on the brink of beginning their new season. Abu Dhabi will host their first-ever WTA tournament where Sofia will lead the draw.
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Be that as it may, it is a great opportunity for Muguruza to get her first win against World No.4. With some big names not participating, they will probably meet in the latter stage of the tournament. It is a matter of 10 days now, to know who hails the Abu Dhabi title.
Also Read: Garbine Muguruza Reveals “Playing Mixed Doubles with Rafael Nadal” is One of Her Special Goals
