Garbine Muguruza finished her 2021 season phenomenally by clinching her first-ever WTA Finals. In the final, Muguruza defeated Anett Kontaveit in straight sets to lift her third and biggest title of the season.
With the victory, Muguruza became the first Spaniard to win the WTA Finals in the tournament’s history. The Spanish star ends the year as the World No.3, her highest ranking in more than three years.
Garbine Muguruza cracks a joke at Nadal’s expense
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In an interview with El Partidazo de COPE, the 28-year-old expressed how special it felt winning the WTA Finals, a tournament that is like a mini Grand Slam.
In addition, the 2-time Grand Slam champion laid down her aim of winning the trophies missing from her cabinet, particularly the Australian Open and the US Open titles.
“It is a very special tournament, where the top eight are, each match is like a Grand Slam final and although it is less recognized than a Grand Slam, it has a very important value. My goal is to win the tournaments I’m missing, the two Grands Slams that I don’t have,” said Muguruza.
On a lighter note, Muguruza cracked a joke about having a title that fellow Spaniard and 20-time Grand Slam Champion Rafael Nadal has never won. Despite having competed ten times at the ATP Nitto Finals and having reached the final twice, Nadal has failed to win the season-ending championships.
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“Rafa give me something, right? You have 20 Great Slams, something I can take away; I have something you don’t have,” joked Muguruza.
Muguruza last won a Grand Slam title at the 2017 Wimbledon Championships. Since then, she has reached only one major championship final, the 2020 Australian Open final, which she lost in three sets.
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With the off-season having begun, Muguruza will take much-needed rest before departing for the 2022 Australian Open in January.
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