Garbiñe Muguruza is a Spanish-Venezuelan professional tennis player and former world No. 1 who is currently ranked No. 2 in singles by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA). Since turning professional in 2012, she has won five singles titles, including two majors at the 2016 French Open and the 2017 Wimbledon Championships.
World No. 2 Garbiñe Muguruza shares her journey as a professional tennis player in a candid interview with Namita Nayyar, President Women Fitness.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You are currently ranked World No. 2 in singles by the Women’s Tennis Association. Since turning professional in 2012, you have won five singles titles, including two majors at the 2016 French Open and the 2017 Wimbledon Championships. Looking back at the incredible journey that you have had, how does it feel?
Ms. Garbiñe Muguruza:
It feels great!! It has been a very intense journey… 5 years of ups and downs, with great victories, painful loses, surgeries, injuries, long hours working hard on the court, at the gym… I had it all. I think that I have gone through so many situations and so many tests that I feel pretty prepared for what ever the competition has at stake for me.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Starting from the beginning, tell us how were you introduced to the wonderful world of tennis?
Ms. Garbiñe Muguruza:
Through my family. I have two older brothers, 11 and 10 years older than I am. So I always wanted to be like them and do what ever they did. They played tennis at a country club in Venezuela, where I was born and I lived with my family. So as soon as I was 4 years old, I was admitted at the tennis school there and that was it. I loved tennis from the beginning. Always wanted to play and compete.
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All Written Content Copyright © 2017 Women Fitness
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
When did you decide that you wanted to take your passion for the sport forward and take it up professionally?
Ms. Garbiñe Muguruza:
Well there was a big opportunity when I was Young. My brothers kept improving so they had to look for better training opportunities. They found this solution in Spain. They moved to Barcelona to live and practice at the Bruguera Academy. My Dad is from Spain so it was an easy decision. After one year in Barcelona, my parents decided that my mom and I should also move there to keep the family together and my dad would travel back and forward.
Once in Barcelona, I was 6, I started to play more and more, I studied at the tennis academy so for me all was about tennis. I began competing and winning, even against the older girls so when I was 14 I realized that I could make tennis my profession and started to plan my life more, and more around it.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
With the extensive energy required for the sport you have to keep up your fitness levels too. What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine?
Ms. Garbiñe Muguruza:
It depends on the time of the year. For example, I just finished my preseason. I just left for Brisbane where I will be playing my first tournament of the year. Pre-season is a very important part of the year. We train very hard for 5 weeks. Specially the physical part, with 2 main goals. First to get stronger and quicker on the court, and also we work on the body to prevent injuries. The Tour´s calendar is very intense and long so it is important that the entire body is fit to be able to handle the competition.
So in the preseason its a lot about strength. And during the season depends on how am I feeling, and even on what surface I am playing on. For example after the clay season we start playing on the grass. For the grass training, I will work specifically on my legs, on my quadriceps, as you have to bend your legs a lot more when playing on grass (as the bounce of the ball is lower than on clay).
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Do you take any special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?
Ms. Garbiñe Muguruza:
I don’t have a set diet, but of course I watch what I eat. I have improved that a lot this last year. Before I would eat anything, lots of meat, carbs, sweets…. Now I know I cannot do that because my performance will be affected not only at matches but specially at practices when you have to put the hard work in. I try to eat lots of veggies, fish, fruits… everything really but no fast food, no sodas, … trying to eat organic when I can cook… things like that. And always with some dark chocolate close by. But I treat my body as a F1 car, and everything counts when it comes down to performing at your best.
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Ms. Namita Nayyar:
When you’re not playing tennis, what other activities do you like enjoy doing?
Ms. Garbiñe Muguruza:
We travel so much that I try to do some site seeing while I am at tournaments. You dont have much time and have to save all the energy you have but I like to visit monuments, museums, go to good restaurants…
When on vacation I like the sun, the outdoors, and some activity…can’t sit for too long on the couch.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You were recently named the ITF World Champion for 2017, how does that feel?
Ms. Garbiñe Muguruza:
It is really an honor. Especially coming from the ITF and even more so because my fellow countryman Rafael Nadal was also named champion. He is a great role model for all of us. So for Spain it is very special too. But getting all these awards make me work even harder and make me realize that I am working well, every day and that dedication is paying off.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
In 2014, you first came into prominence by reaching the last 16 of the 2014 Australian Open, where you scored an upset over former world No. 1, Caroline Wozniacki, en route and then defeated Serena Williams in the second round of the French Open that same year, beating the then-world No. 1 in straight sets en route to the quarterfinals. This was the first great victory of your career, how did you feel at the end of the year then?
Ms. Garbiñe Muguruza:
It was a special year! The entire journey has have been since I started on the WTA Tour to be honest. I have improved every year and I have learned to be more patient and to be persistent and humble. I want to keep going.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Who has been your greatest inspiration and motivator in your success in the field of your career?
Ms. Garbiñe Muguruza:
There are many people that have inspired me. Most of all, my family. My parents made a difficult decision so their kids were able to play tennis, to keep doing what we loved. I was able to make tennis my profession, and knowing how proud they are it is the biggest support. And then, so many people that I have worked with all these years, they all helped.
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Ms. Namita Nayyar:
While playing professional sports, athletes often face injuries and other difficulties, would you like to tell the audience about how to cope up and make a comeback after an injury?
Ms. Garbiñe Muguruza:
I had to stop 6 months and had surgery done on my ankle. It was very hard because sitting at home I realized how much I wanted to be out there competing, and that desire to come back, realizing you can not take anything for granted was the biggest motivator. I came back and won my first title in Hobart. That made me realize how important was to train well, to take care of my body…
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Advice and motivational words to our inspiring and budding female tennis players who all are your fans, what they should do for their climb to ladder of success in the field of tennis?
Ms. Garbiñe Muguruza:
I think it is the same for tennis, than for life in general…. Believe in yourself. Surround yourself with positive people, people that will help you be the best version of your self. You are stronger than you think. There is always a little more you can do, for you and for others. No doubt.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Message for our readers at Womenfitness.net for the New Year 2018.
Ms. Garbiñe Muguruza:
I wish everyone a great 2018. With lots of health, lots of love and lots of strength to take over all those great opportunities that the year has for all of us.
Follow her on:
- https://www.instagram.com/garbimuguruza/
- https://www.facebook.com/GarbiMuguruza
- https://twitter.com/garbimuguruza
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All content on this site is copyright of Women Fitness and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http://www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2017 Women Fitness