WTA FINALS

November 14, 2021

Garbine Muguruza

Press Conference

G. MUGURUZA/A. Kontaveit

6-4, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Garbine, talk us through the match tonight and the atmosphere out there, your thoughts on reaching the semifinals here in Guadalajara.

GARBINE MUGURUZA: Very happy. I mean, today was a match that was kind of everything or nothing. Starting the round-robin with a loss, it was never good. To finally get two wins and qualify was amazing.

Actually today I think I played the best match out of the three. Cutting this long run from Anett, I was like, Okay, is it going to be me the one to stop her?

Yeah, very happy about it.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. What do you think was the key tonight? I thought your serve in particular was firing well. From your perspective, what was the key?

GARBINE MUGURUZA: Yeah, I mean, I think it was clear my serve was very important to not get breaked, and to break her quite fast in the couple of sets. Yeah, just to maintain my serve and to dominate, try to do less mistakes than her also because the conditions are tough.

Yeah, I think clearly my serve was the key today.

Q. How different does this run to the semifinals feel compared to 2015?

GARBINE MUGURUZA: Well, definitely more experience. Saving the energy that I need for when I need it, being very smart about like, don't be too emotional. I started with a loss and I said, That doesn't matter, this is round-robin, I still have chances.

Just a little bit more perspective, a little bit more experience and mature. I think I'm more ready to face the semifinals than what I was in 2015.

Q. This is the first time that two Spanish women have advanced to the WTA Finals semifinal stage. It's going to guarantee a first-time Spanish finalist since Arantxa in 1993. A lot of history being made today.

GARBINE MUGURUZA: Yeah, I mean, this is amazing. I didn't know all of these history. 1993, I was born that year. Wow, it is amazing (smiling).

It's amazing% there are four players left and two of them are Spaniards. I mean, that just shows that Spain has a great level of tennis and a great school.

It's going to be a fun match. It's like you said, historical. Hopefully the crowd is going to be on the match. Yeah, whoever plays better is going to get the final.

Q. Paula had a lot of kind words for you before the tournament, saying you were an inspiration, role model, helping her believe an aggressive player can come from Spain on the women's side. Have you kept tabs on her and how you feel about the rise she has been able to make this season?

GARBINE MUGURUZA: I've been very happy for her. She started the year obviously further back. She made her way to the top playing amazing, winning Indian Wells. We shared fun moments in the Olympics. We've talked a little bit. We get to know a little bit more of each other. It's a special week to bond.

Yeah, I mean, she's always had the talent. I think now she's putting the puzzle together. Yeah, she's playing great. Everybody can see it.

Q. Do you feel like you've improved with every match? If so, what do you think you have improved?

GARBINE MUGURUZA: Oh, yeah, I've improved. The first match, it was a little bit of, Okay, let's see how I feel on court. I felt it went well actually. I feel now that I control more the ball, that I'm serving better. I'm just, like, learning how to play in altitude. I don't know what it is exactly. It's just controlling the ball, making smarter decisions maybe in important points.

I don't know, I can't name one. It's just a feeling in the racquet, I would say.

Q. At the start of the tournament you said, Let's not focus too much on my record in Mexico because this is very different here in Guadalajara. Given the way you've played, how you've improved with every match, now 12-2 in Mexico, is there something in the air here that gets these runs out of you?

GARBINE MUGURUZA: Yeah, definitely Latin America. The Latin America environment, air, people, crowd, everything. I love it here. I feel so home and welcome. People are very good with me. I guess that shows in my tennis, I don't know.

It is very special for me. This is once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me to play the Finals here. I'm very, extremely motivated, I would say.