THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 28, 2021

Garbine Muguruza

Press Conference

G. MUGURUZA/F. Ferro

6-0, 6-1

GARBINE MUGURUZA: Muguruza.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Were you expecting the match to be as straightforward as it was?

GARBINE MUGURUZA: We played before. We played in French Open. It was actually a tough match. It was a tough match. So I was, you know, preparing for a battle, especially in grass court, which is, you know, sometimes difficult to play.

You know, happy, I felt good on the court. Since the first ball I was trying to dominate the point, and I felt I was doing it. Then, yeah, she might not have -- I think she didn't have her best day, but I felt in control in the match.

Q. Just coming into the tournament, you had a pretty good few matches in Berlin on grass to kind of get acquainted, but how were you feeling going into Wimbledon? How were you feeling physically? Have you had time to get your body where you'd like it to be at this point in the season?

GARBINE MUGURUZA: I'm going every day, you know, day by day. I feel good today. You know, now I'm just thinking about getting ready for my next match.

Yeah, feeling better than in the clay court, that's for sure. I think Berlin helped me. I played tough matches over there. And it gave me the hours I needed on grass court and then here.

You know, very excited to be back after two years. I was actually very emotional when I got inside of the court, and it was a lot of people waiting for us. You know, silence and no banners and no music. I don't know. I felt very happy to be back. It was a nice feeling (smiling).

Q. Being a former Wimbledon champion, do you feel any extra pressure to perform well? How easy is it to manage your expectations?

GARBINE MUGURUZA: I don't feel really the pressure. I don't feel I have to prove nothing no more. You know, I have played well here. I'm excited to be back.

You know, every year is really, let's see how far can I go in Wimbledon, how many matches can I get on grass court?

I stopped feeling this kind of pressure of having to prove, having to, you know, I don't know, show someone or the world that I have to perform well or anything.

You know, I have been through that, and now I feel like, you know, more calm, just doing my thing.

Q. Could I ask you to tell us a little bit more about those emotions you mentioned a moment ago? Was it when you first walked into the grounds last week? Was it today for your match? Was it walking into the court? And what was it that you saw or heard that made you feel that way?

GARBINE MUGURUZA: No, it was actually when I walked on court in the match. I was watching through the TV, you know, with the raining and the delay, that, you know, the court, there was a lot of crowd in the court waiting for us. I was, like, Oh, wow.

I have played a lot at the beginning of the year, and, you know, all of those matches and finals on an empty court. You know, it felt like, Okay, I've got to go through this.

And then when I stepped out today and everybody was clapping, I felt like, Oh, my God, this is what I missed, you know, this feeling, this energy.

You know, I play for the people to come and watch. That gives me the motivation, the strength. I don't know. I feel like it has always been like this with me. The bigger the stage, I feel like, I don't know, the more motivated I am.