Despite her many loyal fans around the world, her best run here at Wimbledon has introduced Garbine Muguruza to an even bigger audience. Here are ten facts about the No.20 seed you may not know.
THE BEGINNING: Garbine Muguruza was born in Caracus, Venezuela and began playing tennis at the age of three. Her mother is Venezuelan and her father is Spanish.
IDOLS: As a junior, Muguruza looked up to Pete Sampras and Serena Williams. Speaking about the current world No.1 she said: “She was kind of like an inspiration for me because when I was watching the TV I would see her play finals and she was No.1. It’s one of those moments that you want to learn how she plays and try to see what you can do to play her.”
GRAND SLAM GLORY: Muguruza never dreamed her maiden Grand Slam final would be contested on the lawns of Wimbledon, a surface she initially disliked. She had previously named the US Open as the tournament she would most like to win. Looking ahead to her first final at a major she said: “To have Serena in the Wimbledon final I think is the hardest match you can have. If you want to win a Grand Slam, when you dream, you say, 'I want Serena in the final.' She's like one of the best players in all these years.” The women have only ever drawn each other at Grand Slams - twice at the Australian Open and once at Roland Garros. Although Williams leads the head-to-head 2-1, Muguruza scored a convincing 6-2, 6-2 win over the American at the 2014 French Open.
BEST FRIEND: Top 10 tennis player Carla Suarez Navarro is one of Muguruza’s best chums and also her doubles partner. They claimed the doubles title in Birmingham a few weeks ago and also won in Stanford, USA together in 2014. Muguruza also won her first singles title at Hobart as a qualifier the same year.
SPANISH SUCCESS: Garbine is the first Spanish woman to reach the Wimbledon ladies’ singles final since Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario in 1996. Conchita Martinez was the last to win the title in 1994. Muguruza has received strong support on social media from the likes of Rafa, Feliciano Lopez and David Ferrer: “It actually means a lot because to read these messages from these kind of players, it’s so cool. I’m actually really happy that they support me and they watch me play. It’s really good,” she said.
MASTER CHEF: Garbine is handy in the kitchen. “I like to cook, sweet things, with sugar, not with salt. Now that I'm here in Wimbledon in the house, I'm like doing the dessert sometimes. I know it's not good for me, but it's how I like to spend time,” she said.
MATCH STATS: Muguruza has served 27 aces and 18 double faults on her way to the final and spent a total of eight hours and 31 minutes on court, compared to six hours and 38 minutes for Serena. Williams has hit 68 aces and committed 13 double faults.
FAVOURITE HOBBIES: Listening to music. Rihanna and David Guetta are on her playlist. The 21-year-old enjoys relaxing to a variety of music genres ranging from opera to reggaeton and pop.
SHE’S SLIGHTLY SUPERSTITIOUS: Even though she says she isn’t. Her mother and father have not been present at these Championships and now they're banned. “My parents, they’re going to be in Barcelona watching me from the TV. I don’t want to change anything, but I’m not superstitious,” she laughs. Earlier this week Garbine confessed she had not altered her routine. “I brush my teeth at the same time. I wake up with the same leg. I'm not going to change anything.”
Very happy to see a colleague, @GarbiMuguruza, in such an important final. All the best! @Wimbledon
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) July 9, 2015
TOP TEN ENDING: Following her magnificent run here, the 21-year-old is guaranteed to break into the top ten for the first time in her career. She started the tournament ranked No.20 in the world, having previously held a career high of No.19 in March 2015. A runner-up finish in Saturday’s final will see her ranking rise to No.9 and potentially No.6 if she is crowned champion.
