US OPEN

September 1, 2022

Garbine Muguruza

Press Conference

G. MUGURUZA/L. Fruhvirtova

6-0, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Straight sets. Give us your thoughts on win No. 2 so far in this year's Open.

GARBINE MUGURUZA: Well, very happy. It's been a while since I don't put a couple of victories together. I was facing a very young opponent, which, you know, it can be a tricky round, not knowing much about her and being a rising star.

But I feel like I started playing very well, very concentrated, and very composed. Obviously in the second set I think she elevated her game, start to hit good groundstrokes and got me a little bit out of place. Luckily I stayed strong there at the end of the second set and managed to close it, because the match, I think it was getting pretty equal at that point.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. On match point you kind of had that celebration of kind of closing your eyes and looking up to the heavens. Curious, was that a look of relief or soaking it in, of joy? What was the emotion on closing that out?

GARBINE MUGURUZA: I would say all of it. I would say a relief of closing the match, because, yeah, I was almost 5-1 down and came back and stayed tough there. So I was happy that I didn't had to play a tiebreak or a third set, so it was a relief at that moment. But also to get another win here in a nice stadium. Like I said, it's been a while.

Q. Looking ahead, obviously you play someone you know well in terms of her game style, you know what to expect between the both of you in Petra. At this stage, does it change how you feel going into that match? If this was a third round three, four years ago, versus now, does it feel different now or you lock back into, Petra Kvitova, let's go?

GARBINE MUGURUZA: I don't think there is any difference. I think we are both playing good tennis. She just played a final a week ago, and it's going to be a challenge. I think that she has beaten me the last few times we played, and here four years ago.

But it's going to be a good challenge for me in the third round.

Q. Are you paying attention at all in the evenings to the Serena night matches? Have you watched any of it, what your reaction is to what you have seen if you have?

GARBINE MUGURUZA: Yeah, I have seen both matches. You know, I'm zero surprised. I think she's playing like Serena plays: Strong and solid, just her game. I'm zero surprised. She's putting it together at the right moment.

This is a last push, and I think we all see it that this is a last push because she's giving it all.