Garbiñe Muguruza saw how Anet Kontaveit’s forehand crashed into the net and made it 6-3 and 7-5 which gave her the title of teacher. And she fell to the ground, crying. In the subsequent press conference, she told what she thought about in those moments, already crowned teacher.
“I thought that the season was over, that I had finally achieved it. I have been looking forward to it since they told me that it would be played in Guadalajara, in Latin America. It was a difficult goal and it has been achieved. I have shown myself again that I can be the best,” said Garbiñe, who said she was already thinking “on the sun lounger” and having “a tequila.” Pure happiness.
“It has been my best year. I haven’t been able to win a Grand Slam, but I have felt happy and more stable, less dramatic. It is the season with the most titles in my career that I have finished with the masters trophy. “I think that during the celebration you could see that it was my happiest moment,” The 28-year-old tennis player continued, with the Dubai, Chicago and Masters trophies this year.
Muguruza had to manage the problem of being almost out of the tournament. She lost from the start to Pliskova, came back to Krejcikova and played it all or nothing with Kontaveit. “It’s been stressful. You know every set and game counts in the round robin and my head-to-head wasn’t good. But I have been a little ant. “I’m glad you were my friend all this week and I didn’t break down.”he recalled after dedicating the title to his team. “A few years ago I would not have handled that situation well. I have known how to manage getting off to a bad start. I have shown myself once again that I am capable of that and more.”
She is already the first Spanish champion of the Masters. “Teacher sounds great! I feel weird!” she exclaimed. “I didn’t think about the story because I already had enough pressure after having seen myself almost eliminated. It’s great to be the first woman. Having my name be in history is the best feeling,” she rejoiced.
From Guadalajara, she leaves number three in the world, which can give her wings in 2022. “I am already a teacher and it puts me in a good position for next year, with a good ranking and energy. I hope to be on the right path. The number one goal is always there (it was in 2017), but now I look at it less. “I prefer to touch the trophies,” he warned as he took the Billie Jean King Cup in his hands.
“The Grand Slams have more history, but when you are among the eight best you know that whoever wins the trophy is the best of the year. So this title would be on par with a Grand Slam,” she concluded. The well-deserved tequila was waiting for her.